Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world

Public media leaders speak out as journalists come under attack

The world reacted with horror last week as the attacks on the US Capitol Building unfolded across screens worldwide. The Capitol sits at the heart of American democracy. But the journalists reporting that story work in the heart of many of our public media organisations.

As the message ‘Murder the Media’ was carved into a door of the Capitol Building, it became clear that news crews, including a team from ZDF in Germany, were being attacked for trying to report on the chaos.

This week, as news crews face increasing threats and physical violence, public media leaders have been speaking out about how we must be robust in defence of that role. PMA has already reported on threats to NOS journalists in the Netherlands and in today’s Toronto Star, Catherine Tait, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada and leader of the Global Task Force for public media [GTF], writes forcefully about the need to stand up for public media journalists. Her words were echoed yesterday by another member of the GTF, BBC Director General Tim Davie. Speaking from a panel at the Reuters Next event, Davie emphasised the need to stand up for journalistic impartiality, one of his four key priorities for the BBC.

Davie was joined in his comments by Reuters president Michael Friedenberg as both men emphasised their concerns about anti-media abuse and threats.

PMA will be compiling a full report on these threats and attacks in the coming weeks.

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What is...

Editorial independence. Transparency. Pluralism. These are just a few terms we regularly hear when the conversation focuses on public media. But what do these terms mean? And can we identify them when we are faced with them?

This year, PSM Weekly will regularly feature brief explainers highlighting concepts related to public media and public interest media as well as the threats facing these organisations and how they manifest worldwide.

1. What does MEDIA CAPTURE look like? 

Despite the importance of journalistic independence to democracy, threats to independent media continue to grow. One such threat is media capture – “when powerful public and private groups take premeditated actions to control media institutions”. Media capture can come in the form of increased media regulations, the persecution of dissident voices, and the purchase and control of media outlets. Poland’s national broadcaster, Telewijza Polska, has experienced considerable media capture in recent years. This has resulted in it being used by the ruling Law & Justice party as a government mouthpiece.

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As the coronavirus pandemic worsens, public media are rapidly adapting to best cover the crisis on a local level while also providing for educational needs and vulnerable groups as isolation policies are introduced.

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Coronavirus: Resources & best practices

Essential resources for sourcing and reporting news about the coronavirus pandemic
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What we're watching...

Public media worldwide continue to provide educational services during the COVID-19 pandemic

 

What we're listening to ...

Terry Gross Chats About Radio, Public Media And The Simpsons

WFYI: NPR’s Fresh Air and longtime host and executive producer Terry Gross are public radio institutions. Gross, who has been host of Fresh Air since 1975, has interviewed thousands of people and isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions. WFYI Reporter Jill Sheridan spoke with Gross, from her home in Philadelphia, ahead of her appearance with WFYI.

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Global Headlines

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GHANA: Post-Election Threats against Journalists in Ghana – the Impunity Must End

MFWA: The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is deeply concerned about continuing threats targeted at critical journalists in Ghana in the aftermath of the general elections and urges the police to intensify investigations into the incidents and arrest the perpetrators to face the law.

NAMIBIA: Similo reiterates that NBC performance bonuses were not paid in secret (Watch)

NBC: The NBC Director General, Stanley Similo has reiterated that all procedures were followed when performance bonuses were paid to managers and was not done in secrecy. Speaking during an interview with our sister program Good Morning Namibia, Similo said, the issue of performance bonuses was discussed by the previous and current boards. 

NIGERIA, KENYA & SOUTH AFRICA: BBC World Service Looking For Podcast Talents In Nigeria, South Africa And Kenya (Opportunity)

Broadcast Media Africa: The World Service of the BBC has launched a new competition to discover new podcast talents in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. The BBC said the competition winner would have the opportunity to work alongside its “world-class” crew for a podcast.

SENEGAL: Entry into force of Senegal’s press code: RSF calls for amendments (French)

RSF: While the decrees implementing the Senegalese Press Code have just been signed by the president more than three years after its adoption, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) recommends the amendment of certain provisions to make Senegal the regional locomotive in freedom of the press.

SEYCHELLES: Chinese foreign minister wraps up Africa tour in Seychelles

Foreign Brief: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will end his five-nation diplomatic tour of Africa with a one-day visit to Seychelles today… which could include proposed funding for the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation. 

SOUTH AFRICA: Govt Fortifies Plans To Make Non-Terrestrial TV Users Pay For TV Licence

Broadcast Media Africa: The South African TV Licence framework’s ongoing issues seem to be settling with the nation’s government adamant that it will be extending the payment of TV licenses to the users of non-terrestrial or traditional TV services.

SOUTH AFRICA: SABC concludes redundancy talks, plans to cut about 10% of workforce

Fin24: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) says it has concluded its consultation process over the company’s restructure plan, with the number of employees to be made redundant now reduced to 303, about 10% of its workforce.

SOUTH AFRICA: SABC management did not exhaust 30-day extended consultation process: CWU

SABC News: The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) says the SABC’s plan to proceed with the retrenchment of staff confirms the union’s suspicion that management did not exhaust the extended 30-day consultation process to find ways of saving jobs.

TANZANIA: MISA Condemns Tanzanian Authorities For Unfair Ban Of Wasafi TV

Broadcast Media Africa: The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Zimbabwe) has criticised Tanzanian authorities for their harsh six-month suspension of Wasafi TV. The TV station was banned by the Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) for airing a musician who was scantily dressed during a live show.

UGANDA: Media freedom in Uganda: statement from Media Freedom Coalition members

Gov.uk: Members of the Media Freedom Coalition gave a statement on media freedom ahead of the 14 January 2021 elections in Uganda.

UGANDA: Police beat, detain journalists covering opposition candidates ahead of Uganda elections

CPJ: Ugandan security forces should stop harassing and attacking journalists, and should ensure that the press can freely cover the country’s upcoming elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

ZIMBABWE: SANEF CALLS ON ZIMBABWE TO STOP ONLINE ABUSE OF FEMALE JOURNALISTS AND TO RELEASE JOURNALIST HOPEWELL CHIN’ONO

SANEF

REGIONAL: Media freedom and democracy (Opinion)

The Nation: Unfortunately, China is not alone in harassing the media. In the recent past, reporters have faced attacks in Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, Egypt and Turkey.

CHINA: Beijing orders Chinese media to censor coverage of Alibaba probe (Paywall)

The Financial Times: Directive to restrict reporting comes as speculation mounts over whereabouts of Jack Ma

HONG KONG: Hong Kong police order media outlets to surrender information on pro-democracy candidates

CPJ: Hong Kong authorities should cease ordering media outlets to turn over information relating to the region’s pro-democracy movement, and stop all harassment of independent outlets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong public broadcaster chief ‘reminds’ staff not to interview 53 arrested democrats

HKFP: RTHK union says colleagues will “remain steadfast” in their work.

INDIA: Draft national broadcasting policy ready for consultation

Indian Television

JAPAN: NHK Enterprises Delivers Formats with “Warmth & Compassion”

World Screen: Taking hits from Japan’s NHK, and elsewhere, and turning them into international successes, NHK Enterprises has found solid business in selling format rights for local remakes. 

PAKISTAN: Naeem Bokhari’s appointment as chairman state TV challenged

The News International: The appointment of senior lawyer Naeem Bokhari as director and chairman of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) has been challenged before the Lahore High Court.

SINGAPORE: Mediacorp radio sees growth in audience: Nielsen survey

Asia Radio Today: Mediacorp’s radio network has seen a growth in listenership, reaching 3.4 million people1 weekly, which is close to 80% of total adults, with more than 13 hours of engagement recorded weekly.

SOUTH KOREA: A turning point for news media in South Korea: Korea Herald columnist (Opinion)

The Straits Times: The writer says that with the rise of news portals, local news media have to navigate a fresh wave of challenges to safeguard their position.

SOUTH KOREA: KBS Broadcasting Equipment Certification Center acquired internationally recognized KOLAS certification (Press release – Korean)

KBS: KBS Broadcasting Equipment Certification Center held an event to commemorate the acquisition of internationally recognized KOLAS certification for the first time in the domestic broadcasting equipment industry with the attendance of KBS President Yang Seung-dong and other executives and staff members.

SOUTH KOREA: Korea Communications Commission vows revisions to meet needs of new age

Korea JoongAng Daily: The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) announced its three goals and 12 missions to achieve this year, vowing to create a better environment for both TV broadcasters and consumers by revising old regulations and amending them to meet the needs of the new age. 

THAILAND: Thai PBS to recruit new director, appoints 9 members to recruit new Thai PBS director Open for applications at the beginning of February 2021 (Press release – Thai)

Thai PBS: On January 7, Associate Professor Jermsak Pinthong, Chairman of the Thai PBS Policy Committee, signed the announcement of the appointment of the Nomination Committee for the Director of the Public Broadcasting Organization of Thailand (FTI). 9 people to replace the current director (Associate Professor Wilasinee Phiphitikul) who will complete a term of 4 years in July 2021.

VIETNAM & US: US Urges Vietnam to Release Convicted Journalists

VOA: The United States has called on Vietnam to release all people “unjustly detained” and to allow individuals “to express their views freely, without fear of retaliation,” according to State Department principal deputy spokesperson Cale Brown.

GENERAL: Deadly December: Media killings, political crackdown, and attack on women journalists in Asia

IFEX: A violent ending during the year of the pandemic. Media killings reflected the continuing impunity in Afghanistan. Crackdown worsened in Hong Kong. And several women journalists were harassed, arrested, and killed for simply fulfilling their work.

GENERAL: Radiodays Asia 2021: New speakers announced (Event)

Asia Radio Today: Radiodays Asia, which will take the second edition of this event online for 2021, due to the ongoing pandemic, has announced a new set of speakers. 

AUSTRALIA: ABC closes out 2020 on top of Digital Content Ratings

Mumbrella: ABC News once again led the pack in Nielsen’s December Digital Content Ratings, ending 2020 with a unique audience of 11.4 million, despite a 6.9% month-on-month drop.

AUSTRALIA: ABC review into Buyouts and Band 1 classifications (Statement)

ABC: The ABC is committed to ensuring all employees are paid accurately and has undertaken a comprehensive review of both current and former employees and relevant ABC Enterprise Agreements. 

AUSTRALIA: ABC reviewing pay of almost 2000 workers to check for potential underpayments

The Sydney Morning Herald: The ABC is checking whether it has correctly paid almost 2000 staff just months after it shelled out a record $600,000 to apologise for underpaying casual workers over six years.

AUSTRALIA: Digital TV, 20 years on, may never end up fulfilling its potential

The Sydney Morning Herald: It’s 20 years this summer since Australian broadcasters launched digital TV with great fanfare, but they’ve struggled to deliver on the promise of an entertainment revolution.

AUSTRALIA: NITV and SBS invite Australia to come together and reflect through Always Was, Always Will Be programming slate (Press release)

SBS: Special events, Slow TV and powerful premieres form a unique programming slate for the week leading to January 26.

NEW ZEALAND: Support for journalism and current affairs keeps New Zealanders informed

NZ On Air: The final NZ On Air funding round of 2020 has confirmed support for a number of returning specialist current affairs shows and important investigative journalism initiatives.

BELARUS: More than ever, journalists in Belarus need support (Opinion)

Emerging Europe: Journalists are still being detained in Belarus, months after a rigged presidential election. Among the latest to have been arrested is Yulia Slutskaya, founder of the Press Club Belarus.

BELGIUM: VRT NWS reach achieves all-time high in extraordinary year 2020 (Press Release)

VRT: In the Covid year of 2020, the VRT achieved high reach scores on radio, television and online. The reach of our newsroom VRT NWS, in particular, saw an all-time high in 2020. 

CROATIA: Croatia’s Quakes Create Fertile Ground for Fake News (Paywall)

Balkan Insight: The latest earthquakes that hit Croatia in late December sparked a good deal of solidarity – but the widespread panic also created new space for the spread of conspiracies and false information.

DENMARK: DR has opened a channel on DRTV dedicated to home schooling (Press release – Danish)

DR: With a temporary extra channel ‘Ramasjang homeschool’ on DRTV from 8.00 to 14.00 every weekday, expanded content in ‘Ultra Nyt’ and a large number of digital teaching offers, DR will help parents with homeschooling.

ESTONIA: The new “Estonian Stories” will premiere on the ERR Culture Portal and ETV (Estonian)

ERR: The series of short documentaries “Estonian Stories” has been supplemented with eight different films. A new season will start on the ETV screen on Monday at 8 pm, the virtual premiere will take place today at 6 pm on the ERR Culture Portal, where the first four films will be shown as a special screening.

FRANCE: New name for the Maison de la radio, commitment of the antennas, diversity …: Sibyle Veil’s projects (French)

Le Journal du Dimanche: “Our chains don’t have to be slick.” Mid-term, the CEO of Radio France, Sibyle Veil, unveils her plans. The name of the Maison de la Radio will change to promote music.

FRANCE: Radio France wants to be more like French society (French)

Le Monde: The public radio group headed by Sibyle Veil is embarking on a program intended to diversify the profiles that make up the company and the branches.

GERMANY: ARD and ZDF increase the range of learning content due to school lockdown (German)

Heise Online: The British BBC is leading the way, now ARD and ZDF also want to expand their educational offer in view of school closings due to Corona.

GERMANY: German pubcaster NDR seeks programme sponsors to boost income (Paywall)

Telecompaper: German public broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) plans to add sponsor notices in future in TV and radio programs, Medienkorrespondenz reports. 

IRELAND: America shows us risks of partisan news as media commission starts work

Independent (Ireland)

ITALY: Italy: RaiPlay views up 80%

Advanced Television: RaiPlay reached a 1.24 billion total views in 2020, for an average of over 100 million videos viewed monthly, with a growth of over 80 per cent compared to 2019.

NETHERLANDS: NPO chairman: ‘Attacks on journalism are unacceptable’ (Dutch)

NPO: In her New Year speech today, NPO board chairman Shula Rijxman has spoken out strongly against the multifarious threats that Dutch journalists are increasingly facing. “We fight falsehoods, conspiracy theories and polarization with one antidote: the facts”, says Rijxman, who highly values ​​Dutch journalism. Also in 2021, journalists will have plenty of space at the Public Broadcasting: “They will bring the news from all sides. Pluriform, open and reliable.”

RUSSIA: Despite Too Many Threats to Count, Russian Reporter Elena Milashina Won’t Quit

VOA News: The risks for journalists reporting on Chechnya are never far from Elena Milashina’s mind. Her colleague, Anna Politkovskaya, was murdered in 2006 covering the same region. Milashina, who works for the renowned independent Russian news outlet Novaya Gazeta, has herself been physically attacked while reporting on the southwestern Russian republic…

SLOVENIA: Commission says EU rules cannot be excuse to stop press agency funding

STA agency: European rules cannot be used as an excuse to stop the funding of press agencies, an EU Commission spokeswoman said Tuesday about the financing of the STA. 

SPAIN: Makeover for some new newscasts (Press release – Spanish)

RTVE: In the next few days, the Spanish Television News will experience a technological revolution, the result of the work of many months of a multidisciplinary team from TVE. The novelties reach the set, which will be expanded and will become a window to the outside world, the headboard, the tuning and the entire graphic line and lettering, with new technologies as protagonists. A technological renovation that will also change the narrative of the content.

SPAIN: RTVE starts the ‘casting’ to look for a new president (Spanish)

La Vanguardia: RTVE will have a new president after more than two years with Rosa María Mateo as sole administrator pending the resolution of the public tender to find a new manager. 

SWEDEN: SVT Play soon bigger than SVT1 – new audience size needed (Press release – Swedish)

SVT: When the annual figures now come for TV viewing in 2020, it is clear that the TV industry is undergoing transformation. The audience is increasingly choosing online for their viewing.

UK: BBC and British Telecom partner to remove mobile data charges for BBC Bitesize educational content (Press Release)

BBC: Customers across BT networks will have free, unlimited access to BBC Bitesize content by the end of January, while schools remain closed.

UK: BBC iPlayer sees record breaking holiday fortnight

Digital TV Europe: UK public broadcaster the BBC’s BBC iPlayer video-on-demand service broke viewing records over the holiday period, seeing 245 million streams over between December 21 and January 3, up by 16% on the same two weeks last year. 

UK: Former banker Richard Sharp to be next BBC chairman

BBC News: Former Goldman Sachs banker Richard Sharp is set to be named the BBC’s next chairman…

UK: The BBC, Fleet Street and the future of journalism (Paywall)

The Financial Times: Precarious finances loom large in two books that chart the battles over public broadcasting and fake news. 

UK: Tim Davie: Why it’s so important we help children in lockdown (Press release)

BBC Media Office: “The latest phase of the Covid crisis is affecting everyone in ways that were barely imaginable only one year ago. School closures and a full lockdown in particular bring untold pressures on parents, pupils, and teachers alike. But it has been heartening over the last week to see how the whole of society is once again stepping up to support our children’s educational lives. I’m so pleased the BBC is playing its part too.”

GENERAL: Takeaways from webinar “Media councils in the digital age: how to regain trust and ethics in journalism”

EFJ: After a successful year regarding the EU-supported Media Councils projects, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) hosted an online webinar on 11 January 2021 to talk about the achievements and the next phase.

BRAZIL: Independent ombudsman launched for public media in Brazil (Portuguese)

EBC Defense Front: Citizen Ombudsman denounces the dismantling of social participation at public broadcaster Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC), a process that began under President Temer in 2016.

BRAZIL: Minister of Justice will ask to open investigation against journalists for column against Bolsonaro

Via Knight Center

CHILE: Forums about TV, childhood and cinema in Ojo de Pescado (Spanish)

El Mostrador: The Defense Committee for Television and Public Media, the College of Journalists of Chile, public channels of Latin America, Guilds and distributors of film and audiovisual content, content creators, children of Chile will be part of the 8 open forums on Television, Cinema and Children organized by the Ojo de Pescado Cultural Corporation to promote citizen debate within the framework of the social transformations that our country is experiencing and facing the New Constitution.

ECUADOR: Ecuador closed 2020 with 144 attacks on media, 24 deaths and more than 700 dismissals (Spanish)

Hola News: Ecuador closed 2020 with a hard balance for the press in a year marked by the pandemic, with 144 attacks on the media, 24 deaths of journalists and the dismissal of more than 700 communication workers, reveals a report Tuesday. 

JAMAICA: The scary coverage of a general election during a pandemic (Editorial)

Jamaica Observer

MEXICO: Journalism Collective Finds Safety in Collaboration (Listen)

VOA: Eight years ago, investigative journalist Regina Martínez was found beaten and dead in her home in Veracruz, Mexico. A well-known reporter, she was investigating power and corruption, including the state government’s alleged relationship with violent drug organizations.

NICARAGUA: Homes raided and a ‘gag law,’ signs of a more dangerous 2021 for journalism in Nicaragua

Knight Center

NICARAGUA: The cybercrime law “represses” press freedom in Nicaragua, warns an NGO (Spanish) 

Hola News: The Special Law on Cybercrimes, which came into effect this Wednesday in Nicaragua, “comes to repress freedom of expression and of the press,” warned the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh), which described that “perverse” rule.

VENEZUELA: IAPA accuses the Venezuelan Government of “barbarism” against press freedom (Spanish)

Swiss Info: The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) condemned the “Nicolás Maduro regime” in Venezuela on Monday for a “new wave of aggressions and attacks” on independent media and journalists and asked intergovernmental organizations and democratic governments that do the same.

VENEZUELA: Venezuelan authorities raid, shutter VPITV broadcaster

CPJ: Venezuelan authorities should return all equipment confiscated from VPITV and allow it to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

IRAQ: Iraqi Kurdistan: KJS reports 138 cases of media rights violations in 2020

IFJ: There were 138 violations of media and journalists’ rights during 2020 in Iraqi Kurdistan, including arbitrary arrests and physical attacks, a new Kurdistan Journalists’ Syndicate (KJS) report shows. 

SYRIA: Journalists expose Assad regime at cost of their lives

MEMO: Journalists in Syria, trying to document crimes committed by the Bashar al-Assad regime, are routinely killed or injured, Anadolu reports.

TURKEY: Intimidation mars Working Journalists’ Day in Turkey 

Arab News: Turkey marked Working Journalists’ Day on Jan. 10 as media workers in the country face increasing curbs on press freedom. Currently there are about 62 journalists in Turkish prisons, mostly facing trials under the Anti-Terror Law and Turkish Penal Code.

TURKEY: Women journalists imprisoned during protests in Ankara 

EFJ: Three women journalists were detained and another was beaten by police on 5 January during a protest in the Turkish capital Ankara against the disappearance of a Kurdish student a year ago. 

YEMEN: Yemen: 112 media freedom violations during 2020

IFJ: The Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate (YJS) has documented 112 cases of violations of media and journalists’ rights in 2020, including killings, torture, kidnappings, arrests and bans. 

CANADA: CBC outlines ‘balancing act’ of linear and digital to CRTC (Paywall)

Media in Canada: The public broadcaster is requesting its license be renewed for five years with less regulatory scrutiny of its digital content.

CANADA: CRTC chairman questions CBC head over transparency as broadcaster calls for ‘flexibility’ on online content

CBC News: Oversight and transparency took centre stage today on Day 1 of a nearly three-week review of the CBC’s broadcasting licences, as the broadcaster asked Canada’s telecommunications regulator to renew licences for its various English- and French-language services.

CANADA: Licence Renewal: January 11 opening remarks (Hearing)

CBC/Radio-Canada

CANADA & US: News Photographers Association of Canada Reacts to Assault of Photojournalist

Via Cision: Members of the News Photographers Association of Canada (NPAC) are strongly condemning and calling for criminal action in today’s (6 Jan) assault of Canadian photojournalist Ben Nelms, who was on assignment covering a pro-Trump rally in Vancouver.

US: Journalists were attacked, threatened and detained during the Capitol siege

The Washington Post: As an angry crowd of Trump supporters surged toward police barriers at the Capitol on Wednesday, Associated Press photographer John Minchillo was there documenting the chaotic scene.

US: PBS and Smithsonian to Provide Free Content to Educators (Press Release)

PBS: Today, PBS announced a new collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution to bring learning-ready content to PreK-12 grade educators nationwide.

US: PBS’ ‘Masterpiece’ marks 50th year with challenges ahead

AP News: As PBS’ “Masterpiece” marks its 50th anniversary Sunday, the drama and mystery showcase could rest on its reputation built with acclaimed programs including “I, Claudius” and “Elizabeth R” and polished anew by surprising pop-culture hits “Sherlock” and “Downton Abbey.”

US: Pompeo defends shake-up at Voice of America

NBC News: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended a controversial shake-up at the Voice of America and other U.S.-funded broadcasters Monday, lavishing praise on a new CEO who has been rebuked by judges and accused by lawmakers of trampling on journalistic independence.

US: The role of the media in the riot (German)

Deutschlandfunk: When the US Capitol was stormed, media representatives were also targeted by militant Trump supporters. How journalists experienced the situation, what role social media played and how the media should deal with the demonstrators’ self-portrayal – an overview.

US: ‘Three people threatened to shoot me.’ Journalists describe covering mob violence at the US Capitol

CPJ: Yesterday’s (6 Jan) pro-Trump protests in Washington, D.C. — during which a mob broke into the Capitol building and forced journalists, lawmakers, and staff to shelter-in-place for hours — were full of anti-press sentiment.

US: Voice of America CEO Accused Of Fraud, Misuse of Office All In One Week

Iowa Public Radio: Fresh crises and fresh challenges confront the Trump-appointed CEO of the parent of Voice of America, even with less than two weeks left of the Trump presidency.

10 things public media should forget and consider in 2021 (Paywall)

Current: 2020 should be a lesson in the Yogi Berra quote: The future ain’t what it used to be.

Call for media workers to get Covid vaccine

Mail & Guardian: More than 600 journalists have died of Covid-19 since March 1 last year, a press freedom organisation said, calling for media workers to have priority access to vaccines.

Democracy under siege—and the press, too

CJR: ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, a mob of right-wing extremists and indignant livestreamers stormed the Capitol. Along their path, they left a note to the journalists who were covering the scene, a message that seemed a harrowing extension of a presidency marked by anti-press virulence: etched into a door was the phrase murder the media.

How Can Journalists Better Serve Immigrant Communities?

Nieman Report: Radically reimagine immigration journalism to make it more responsive to the information needs of multicultural and multilingual audiences.

News Use Across Social Media Platforms in 2020

Pew Research Center: Facebook stands out as a regular source of news for about a third of Americans.

The last broadcast: as streaming takes over, are TV channels doomed?

The Guardian: The BBC and Channel 4 are refocusing their output to keep up with on-demand services – but don’t bin your TV just yet. 

PSM Weekly is available via email. You can subscribe by signing up to our mailing list at the bottom of the page or email editor@publicmediaalliance.org.

All PSM Weekly stories are provided for interest and their relevance to public service media issues, they do not necessarily reflect the views of the Public Media Alliance.

All headlines are sourced from their original story.

If you have any suggestions for our weekly round-ups, please email PMA at editor@publicmediaalliance.org.

Header image: SBS Newsroom

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