CAMBODIA: The Survival of Cambodian Press Freedom Requires More Than Funding

The Diplomat: Local media outlets will find ways to adapt to waning foreign financial support, but they still need external partners to stand up for the principles of free expression.

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INDIA: How an Indian news website was blocked by the government amid the conflict with Pakistan (Interview) 

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: On Friday, May 9, amid uncertainty and fear around a burgeoning conflict with Pakistan, readers across India found they were unable to access The Wire, an online news outlet. The website had been blocked at the government’s orders.

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INDIA: India a part of wider trend of eroding press freedom in South Asia: report

The Hindu: The Annual South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024-25 flags several concerning trends, including a ‘growing trust deficit in media outlets’, ‘choking of independent websites’ and the extreme precarity of gig workers.

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INDIA: Kashmir crisis sparks press crackdown in India

DW: Amid heightened tensions over the Kashmir region, India has ordered the blocking of thousands of accounts on social media and restrictions on news portals, sparking concerns over free speech.

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INDIA & BANGLADESH: India blocks access to four Bangladeshi news channels on YouTube

Dhaka Tribune: Independent Indian media outlet The Wire announced that its website had also been blocked across India.

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INDIA & PAKISTAN: Analysis: The fog of information war (Paywall) 

Semafor: When India and Pakistan slid into conflict last week, it was frankly hard to tell what was going on. Propaganda and censorship limited each country’s press, which had trouble accessing the remote areas where some of the bombs and aircraft fell.

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INDIA & PAKISTAN: Disinformation leads to an “alarming” situation that “raises tensions” (French) 

RFI: Following the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan, an increasing amount of false information has been circulating on social media and some Indian television channels. Adding to this fake news is a desire for control on the part of the authorities. This situation is worrying press freedom advocates in India, as misinformation is plaguing public debate in both countries.

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MALAYSIA: Malaysia pushes for ASEAN social media safety guidelines development

Vietnam +: Teo also highlighted several significant ASEAN-led efforts, including the ASEAN Guideline on Management of Government Information in Combating Fake News and Disinformation, endorsed at the 16th AMRI in Da Nang, Vietnam, in September 2023.

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MYANMAR: Social media’s algorithmic affordances for authoritarian repression in Myanmar (Event)

LSE: In this talk, Dr. Mai Van Tran presents her latest co-authored study that scrutinises the extent to which the algorithmic curation, moderation, and design by social media platforms might facilitate cross-platform authoritarian repression, with evidence from conflict-ridden Myanmar.

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NEPAL: Nepal witnesses a sharp rise in press freedom violations: Study

The Annapurna Express: Nepal witnessed a deeply troubling series of press freedom and freedom of expression violations, with 32 documented incidents affecting 40 journalists, individuals and media houses.

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PAKISTAN: The Wire’s website, 8,000 X accounts blocked in India amid conflict with Pakistan

CPJ: he Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the nationwide block on access to The Wire independent news site as the latest act of media censorship following a militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month.    

AUSTRALIA: In the age of the influencer, does the political backing of News Corp matter anymore? (Analysis)

The Conversation: This year’s federal election demonstrated that Australia’s media landscape has changed. Big players are no longer “kingmakers” in politics.

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AUSTRALIA: Laura Tingle moves from political editor of 7.30 to global affairs role at ABC

The Guardian: She will cover world affairs across all platforms including the Asia Pacific newsroom and Foreign Correspondent.

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FIJI: Fiji media welcomes credible news services, but not ‘pop-up propagandists’, says Simpson

Asia Pacific Report: Entities and individuals that thrived under the previous government with public relations contracts now want to be part of the media or run media organisations, says Fiji Media Association (FMA) secretary Stanley Simpson.

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FIJI: Indonesian postcard image ‘dangerous’ but Fiji a rising star in RSF press freedom index 

Asia Pacific Report: The campaign shines a stark light on the press freedom violations in countries that seem perfect on postcards but are highly dangerous for journalists, says RSF.

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FIJI: USP World Press Freedom Day warnings over AI, legal reform and media safety

Asia Pacific Report: World Press Freedom Day is not just a celebration of the vital role journalism plays — it is also a moment to reflect on the pressures facing the profession and Pacific governments’ responsibility to protect it.

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NEW ZEALAND: Govt to ‘explore options’ on social media ban for under 16s

1 News: Investigating social media restrictions for under-16s will now become part of the Government’s work programme, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today.

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NEW ZEALAND: Two complaints about Middle East reporting not upheld

RNZ: The Media Council has ruled in favour of RNZ on two stories about the Gaza conflict.

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SAMOA: Samoa down in RSF media freedom world ranking due to ‘authoritarian pressure’

Asia Pacific Report: Despite the vitality of some of its media groups, Samoa’s reputation as a regional model of press freedom has suffered in recent years due to “authoritarian pressure” from the previous prime minister and a political party that held power for four decades until 2021.

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REGIONAL: Pacific media groups cite AI, censorship, and limited resources as key challenges in their work 

Global Voices: Responding to this year’s WPFD theme, “Reporting in the brave new world – The impact of artificial intelligence on press freedom and the media,” Pacific Freedom Forum asked global stakeholders to support the region’s media outlets, which are grappling with the double-edged impact of AI.

AUSTRIA: New rules for dismissal of ORF bosses (Paywall – German) 

Der Standard: The new European Media Freedom Act requires criteria for appointment and dismissal. Fewer votes on the Foundation Board could be enough to remove a member.

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BELGIUM: New structure of VRT NWS editorial staff completed with new editor-in-chief Foreign Affairs and editor-in-chief Research & Check (Press release – Dutch) 

VRT: This new structure must continue to support VRT NWS’s ambitions to be the most reliable news source in Flanders. But the structure must also guarantee a flexible news service in a constantly changing media landscape, where employees can progress and their well-being is monitored.

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BELGIUM: VRT expands Eurovision reach to youngsters via Roblox (Press release) 

VRT: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has taken a significant step in engaging younger audiences by creating a dedicated Eurovision world on the popular game platform Roblox.

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CROATIA: Weekly Novosti faces drastic funding cuts amid political pressure

IPI: Co-financed by the Croatian public body Council for National Minorities as part of the Programme for Cultural Autonomy of Minorities, Novosti recently had its 2025 budget decreased by 35 percent compared to last year, despite an increase of the Council’s annual budget of 13.3%.

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CZECH REPUBLIC: The Czech Television Board has dismissed Director General Jan Souček. Michal Fila has been appointed as the new CEO of Czech Television (Press release – Czech) 

Czech Television: The Czech Television Board dismissed Director General Jan Souček at its extraordinary meeting today. Deputy Director General and Director of the Corporate Services Division Michal Fila has been appointed to lead the public institution.

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CZECH REPUBLIC: The Czech Television Board dismissed Director General Jan Souček (Czech) 

ČT24: According to the councilors, the reason was his repeated violations of the ČT Act. According to them, Souček communicated inappropriately with the public, canceled current affairs programs, threatened to cancel several ČT channels if the TV fee was not increased, and failed to inform the council about the pressure being exerted on him.

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GERMANY: AfD in talk shows: No boycott plans at ARD and ZDF (German) 

Der Standard: After the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classified the AfD as “certainly right-wing extremist”, the German Journalists Association is calling for a different approach to the party in the public media

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GERMANY: Two-thirds of Germans consider public broadcasting to be indispensable (Study   – German) 

WDR: A representative study commissioned by WDR shows that trust in the media in Germany has grown again. Public broadcasters are considered particularly credible.

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GREECE: From Bad to Worse: The Deterioration of Media Freedom in Greece (Report) 

Human Rights Watch: Journalists have become targets through various means, including through the use of spyware (such as in the Predator surveillance case) and ostensibly legal methods used to effectively harass, intimidate, and even silence dissent and investigative reporting.

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ICELAND: New on RÚV.is: Continuously updated weather forecast (Press release – Icelandic) 

RÚV: You can now receive messages on RÚV’s weather website. The weather website is an enhanced service for RÚV users.

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IRELAND: Read the feasibility study on the audiovisual content levy (Research) 

Coimisiún na Meán: The Report of the Future of Media Commission recommended that Coimisiún na Meán undertake research on the desirability, efficacy and design of an audiovisual content levy and fund.

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IRELAND: RTÉ asks EBU to Discuss Israel’s Eurovision Participation 

Eurovoix: The Director General of Irish broadcaster RTÉ has confirmed it is seeking a discussion with the EBU over Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision 2025.

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ITALY: Untold threats against environmental journalists in Italy revealed in new case study

IPI: New case study reveals, for the first time, statistical data on attacks against environmental journalists in the country, documenting 114 cases between 2011 and 2025—yet these cases likely represent only a fraction of the real number.

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KOSOVO: Kosovo dispatch: Kosovo is witnessing an alarming decline in press freedom 

Jurist: While Kosovo’s media landscape appears pluralistic, with a mix of private broadcasters and strong digital platforms such as BIRN and Kosovo 2.0, this diversity masks a highly vulnerable media economy.

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THE NETHERLANDS: Public broadcaster continues controversial campaign The place of us all (Press release – Dutch) 

NPO: Public broadcasting is the place for all of us: this was the message of the controversial joint campaign that was frequently seen and heard on public television and radio stations at the end of last year.

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POLAND: Nawrocki’s housing scandal could open the eyes of pensioners. That’s why the PiS candidate is attacking the media that revealed it (Paywall – Polish) 

Gazeta Wiborcza: Karol Nawrocki, the Law and Justice candidate in the presidential election, accuses journalists of manipulation, although he has once again been caught using the truth in a specific way. He is doing it in the same way that the PiS government did for eight years.

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SERBIA: Hallucinations and Unguided Experimentation: AI in Serbian Newsrooms 

Balkan Insight: BIRN research shows journalists in Serbia are experimenting more and more with AI but they lack training, guidelines or any overarching editorial strategy, risking the “unequal and inconsistent application” of such technology.

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SLOVAKIA: Martina Flašíková to lead Slovak public broadcaster (Press release – Slovak) 

STVR: Martina Flašíková has been elected as the new director-general of Slovak Television and Radio (STVR) for a six-year term, following a vote by the STVR Council.

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SLOVAKIA: The Prosecutor General’s Office will not intervene against the STVR Council’s refusal to allow the public and journalists to be physically present at the election of the new director. (Slovak) 

Dennik N: “The public hearing of candidates by the STVR Council as part of the election of the director general does not fall within the scope of the prosecutor’s office’s supervisory authority,” spokeswoman Jana Tökölyová informed.

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SLOVAKIA: The STVR Council will hear candidates for director general and should also decide (Slovak) 

SME: The selection process for the position of DG is related to the change in the law, which changed the then RTVS to STVR last year and ended the mandate of DG Ľuboš Machaj. The current wording of the law also gives the council the authority to elect and dismiss the director.

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SPAIN: Valencian public television dismisses the director of news during the dana (Spanish) 

El País: The changes in the leadership of the Valencian regional broadcaster À punt continue following the changes at the top of the broadcaster’s leadership implemented by the Carlos Mazón government in recent months. 

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SWEDEN: Freedom of the press behind bars (Listen – Swedish) 

SVT: What happens to foreign affairs coverage when journalists risk being locked up? This was discussed at Sveriges Radio’s breakfast seminar on May 8 at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern in Stockholm

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SWEDEN: New pre-evening project 2026 with a focus on topicality and community (Press release – Swedish) 

SVT: SVT’s most important superpower is our nationwide reach. We produce content every day from four major TV houses and more than fifty local newsrooms, which means we can provide the audience with stories, updates and perspectives from every corner of the country.

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SWITZERLAND: Kim Younes: “A Swiss withdrawal from TV5 Monde would send a worrying signal” (Paywall – French) 

Le Temps: The Confederation’s financial contribution to the international broadcaster could be eliminated as part of the Federal Council’s tax relief program. For its CEO, this would be a significant decision that would jeopardize a historic partnership that has largely benefited Swiss interests.

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UK: Channel 4 launches programmes to boost commissioning talent and indie growth in the Nations and Regions (Press release) 

Channel4: Channel 4 has today announced the launch of two Nations and Regions initiatives to strengthen commissioning talent and help production companies maximise their potential.

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UK: Consultation on change to broadcasting rules for ‘politicians as presenters’ (Press release) 

Ofcom: The proposed change aims to makes it clear to broadcasters that a politician cannot be used as a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter in any type of programme, unless there is exceptional editorial justification.

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UK: Ministers demand BBC World Service plan for cuts as aid budget slashed 

The Guardian: Exclusive: David Lammy asks BBC bosses to draw up tightened budget amid criticism move could harm UK’s global influence

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UK: New Local Democracy Reporter Scheme contracts announced (Press release) 

BBC: The LDRS is funded by the BBC as part of its Charter commitment, but employed by local and regional news organisations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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UK: New research reveals the extent of the BBC’s role internationally and changing global trends (Press release) 

BBC: Impact and Influence research shows that the BBC is unmatched in driving favourable impressions of the UK.

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REGIONAL: 90% want social media platforms to act on hate speech and cyberbullying, poll shows 

Media Freedom Poll: Media Freedom Poll 2025 shows strong public support for transparent, effective regulation of social media to protect freedom of expression and democratic integrity. 

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REGIONAL: Governing social media’s opinion power : the interplay of EU regulations (Journal article) 

EUI: This article examines the evolving policy landscape in EU media governance, offering a retrospective analysis of how policymakers have addressed social media’s “opinion power”— and a prospective analysis of the most recent regulatory developments, most importantly the Digital Services Act and the European Media Freedom Act.

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REGIONAL: “We trust you less than the Chinese.” A major change of mood in Central Europe (Paywall – Polish) 

Gazeta Wyborcza: Pollsters asked 4,000 respondents in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary to assess threats to the media in their countries.

IRAN: Six media executives convicted in Iran amid crackdown on journalists

IFEX: Journalists face escalating threats, raids, and harsh prison conditions as Iranian authorities tighten control over independent reporting and public discourse.

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PALESTINE: In Gaza, the price paid by the “unknown soldiers of journalism” (Paywall – French)

Le Monde: Two young Palestinian journalists were killed on Monday, April 7, in an Israeli strike that hit a tent in Khan Younis, and eight others were wounded. They are part of the new generation of reporters, often trained on the job, who have taken over from their elders, who were either killed or took refuge abroad.

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 TURKEY: In Turkey, journalists confront shrinking space for independent media

IJNet: Independent media are increasingly rare in the country; RSF highlighted that 90% of national media are now under government control. News of protests has been preserved by a handful of newspapers and channels outside of well-funded pro-government networks.

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TURKEY: Turkey’s independent media on alert over stance of tech giants (Listen) 

RFI: As Turkey slipped further down in the latest Press Freedom Index, the country’s besieged opposition and independent media are voicing concerns that some of the tech giants are increasingly complicit in government efforts to silence them.

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YEMEN: Press freedom hampered by systematic repression and widespread impunity

ARTICLE 19: Yemen remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, and violations are routinely carried out with nearly total impunity. We urge all authorities in Yemen to fulfill their obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Yemen is a state party.

CANADA: Happy birthday Radio-Canada! French broadcasting in Windsor turns 55 (Watch) 

CBC: CBEF, home of Radio-Canada’s French broadcasting, is turning 55 this month — and they’re marking the occasion with a special broadcast and celebration this weekend.

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CANADA & US: U.S. Google lawsuits could help save Canadian journalism (Opinion)

SaskToday: But any real benefit for smaller publishers depends on Canadian policy-makers stepping up to finish the job.

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US: America at 250: Why we need public media now more than ever (Opinion) 

The Hill: As we approach the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S., it is worth remembering that our founders believed an educated public was not a luxury, but the very foundation of a healthy republic.

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US: American Graduate Expands to Prepare More Young People for a Changing Workforce (Press release)

CPB: American Graduate, a public media initiative supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, is launching a new phase in 10 additional public media markets. The initiative, which began more than a decade ago to prevent students from dropping out of high school, has evolved into explaining career paths for students.

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US: Appeals Panel Pauses Ruling to Release RFE/RL’s April Funds (Press release) 

RFE/RL: RFE/RL still hasn’t received funding for April as a divided appeals court panel grants the government’s request to stay the funding order pending appeal

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US: Congress, defend PBS (Opinion) 

Times Leader: “I’m very much concerned, as I know you are, about what’s being delivered to our children in this country,” said Fred Rogers to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications in May 1969. “We don’t have to bop somebody over the head to … make drama on the screen.”

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US: CPB Statement on U.S. Department of Education Terminating Ready To Learn Grant (Press release) 

CPB: On May 2, the U.S. Department of Education notified the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) that its 2020-2025 Ready To Learn grant is terminated, effective immediately. CPB then informed PBS and 44 public media stations in 28 states and the District of Columbia that receive Ready To Learn grants to stop work immediately, pausing the program in rural and urban communities throughout the country.

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US: ‘Devastating’: Cuts to public broadcasting will be felt here, local experts say

Greenfield Recorder: Federal funding cuts to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service that were announced earlier this month would have serious implications for public media viewers and listeners in western Massachusetts, local experts say.

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US: “It would be an honor for me to put an end to them”: Trump’s hatred of the American media (German) 

NZZ: In the shadow of a trade war with China, Trump is fighting with all means at his disposal against an even greater archenemy: the traditional US media companies. Now he’s resorting to the ultimate weapon.

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US: Rural and Tribal Public Radio Stations Brace for Funding Cuts

CJR: Small broadcasters fear they will be unintended victims of national culture wars.

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US: Trump complains the US media aren’t bending to his will. Aren’t they? (Analysis) 

The Guardian: Despite owners and networks forsaking journalistic independence, Trump continues to threaten journalists

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US: Trump targets NPR and PBS as public and nonprofit media account for a growing share of local news coverage

The Conversation: Republicans in Washington have their sights – once again – on defunding public media.

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US: Voice of America to Receive Feeds From Pro-Trump Network, Administration Says (Paywall)

The New York Times: Kari Lake, whom President Trump put in charge of overhauling Voice of America, said the broadcaster would be fed with content from One America News Network.

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US & CANADA: The attack on public broadcasting is part of a growing threat to press freedom and democracy 

The Conversation: In a disturbing parallel between two countries, President Donald Trump’s recent attack on the two largest public broadcasters in the United States mirrors threats to Canada’s own public broadcaster that were recently dodged by the electoral defeat of Conservative Pierre Poilievre.

Andrei Kuznechyk on Life After Prison and What’s at Stake If RFE/RL Is Silenced (Q&A) 

CJR: Kuznechyk, who works for RFE/RL’s Belarusian Service, known as Radio Svaboda, was initially detained in November 2021 while on a bike ride near his home in the capital, Minsk, and then served ten days in jail on hooliganism charges, which he denied; just as he was set to be released, authorities kept him in prison and added another charge, of “creating or participating in an extremist organization.”

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Free speech: the fight against SLAPPs continues

Meer: How new legislation and civil society efforts are combating abusive lawsuits targeting journalists and activists.

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Indigenous Peoples and the media (Report) 

UNESCO: In a world increasingly influenced by media narratives, the representation of Indigenous Peoples in the media has far-reaching implications for their rights, cultural and linguistic preservation, economic empowerment, well-being and inclusion in society. Access to information and media content that is tailored to Indigenous audiences enables them to make informed decisions and fully participate in society.

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The Local aims to reinvent TV news in four states, and beyond

Nieman Lab: Its founders believe they have a solution for the funding side that isn’t based solely on advertising but instead on content contracts with streaming platforms.

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“The Post-Truth Era”: An Economist’s Look at the Effects of Digital Capitalism (Listen – French) 

RFI: In  L’atelier des médias, Steven Jambot welcomes Michaël Lainé, lecturer in economics at the University of Paris 8. He is publishing L’ère de la post-vérité, published by La Découverte, a book in which he explains how algorithms alter our perception of the world and encourage polarization and the rise of the extreme right.

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This AI expert is creating a chatbot to keep you safe

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Journalist and data scientist Nikita Roy speaks about JESS, a project that promises to give reporters timely advice when facing danger

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When AI challenges the boundaries of information (Listen – French) 

Le Temps: The rise of generative artificial intelligence has raised many questions in the media industry. Swiss photojournalist Niels Ackermann, who collaborates with numerous international press titles, advocated for a cautious approach in an interview published in April 2023, calling on newsrooms to adopt transparent guidelines for their use of these systems.