Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world.
Click on the drop-down menus below to reveal the latest regional stories.
CAMEROON: Media regulator suspends many newspapers and journalists
Reporters without Borders: The CNC announced the sanctions in a communiqué published in the press on 6 December. It said it had suspended 18 newspapers, one radio programme, and 27 newspaper publishers and reporters for periods ranging in most cases from six months to one year.
DRC: RSF and 86 organisations ask EU/US to sanction senior DR Congo officials
Reporters without Borders: The European Union and United States should expand targeted sanctions against those most responsible for recent violent repression and other serious human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a coalition of 72 Congolese and 15 international human rights organizations said today.
EGYPT: New documentary on Egyptian conscription faces strong criticism
Al-Monitor: Soldiers and stories about conscription in Egypt are an area that no one dares write about, much less make films about. But the Qatar-based Al Jazeera media company recently decided to address the issue of conscription in Egypt.
ETHIOPIA: New television channels in Ethiopia may threaten state control
The Economist: News programmes are likely to follow soaps and game shows.
GAMBIA: Social Media Overwhelms a 20-Year Dictator
World Policy Blog
KENYA: Proposed Law Rattles Kenyan Filmmakers and Media
Via All Africa: A proposed law to regulate Kenya’s media industry has put the government and stakeholders on a collision course, forcing the Kenya Film and Classification Board to convene stakeholders’ forums to push its agenda.
MALAWI: Stop attacking the media, Malawi Govt. told
Malawi 24: Political commentators in the country have reiterated the need for government to stop attacking the media and recognise the good work the journalists does.
NIGERIA: Channels TV future brighter: Mohammed
NAN: The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has predicted a brighter future for Channels TV as Nigeria transits from analogue to digital TV in 2017.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC Hands Over 400 Documents to Parliament Inquiry
Via All Africa: The SABC has finally handed over requested documents to Parliament’s ad hoc committee which is holding an inquiry on the fitness of the broadcaster’s board.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC to appear before Icasa over editorial policies
HTXT.Africa: As if the parliamentary inquiry was not enough, the SABC will have to face another challenge in Joburg when it appears before Icasa’s Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC).
TANZANIA: Journalists Told to Read, Live the New Media Law
The Citizen: Media practitioners have been advised to stop complaining about the controversial Media Services Act and instead, read it for practicing their career safely.
WESTERN AFRICA: Attacks by Security Personnel, Impunity for Crimes Remain Top Challenges to Free Expression Rights
Media Foundation for West Africa
ZIMBABWE: EU Says to Enhance Media, ZEC Capacity
Via All Africa: European Union says they are “concerned” about the country’s human rights situation and are closely monitoring it with the aim of providing support to critical areas which enhance democracy.
ASIA-PACIFIC: Mobile Usage Drives Media Consumption in Asia-Pacific
eMarketer: eMarketer unveils a new set of estimates for time spent with media in four markets.
AZERBAIJAN: ODTV rolls out OTT TV offering with SotalCloud
DIgital TV Europe: SotalCloud worked with ODTV to manage the technical aspects of the service, such as CDN media servers, asset management infrastructure and tailored APIs to deliver a comprehensive OTT service and app.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s digital media outlets have the right to report
Hong Kong Free Press: Joint statement by HKFP about the bar placed on digital news outlets from from attending government events, press conferences and accessing press releases.
HONG KONG: Ombudsman rules that Hong Kong gov’t ban on digital journalists is unfair, urges review
Hong Kong Free Press.
INDIA: India Needs To Urgently Endorse a Strong Broadcasters Treaty
The Wire: Not only does signal piracy lead to loss of revenue streams for Indian broadcasters, it is also known to have other unintended consequences such as money laundering and violation of foreign exchange regulations.
JAPAN: New NHK president needs to urgently rebuild responsible management setup
The Japan News: With his qualifications having been questioned, he will soon exit from the public broadcaster’s leadership post. The replacement of the NHK president must be used as an opportunity to build a responsible management system.
JAPAN: NHK-Japan selects a new President
ABU: NHK’s Board of Governors has decided to appoint Mr Ryoichi Ueda, a former vice president of trading house Mitsubishi Corporation, as the next President of Japan’s public broadcaster. Mr Ueda is also one of the current NHK governors.
KAZAKHSTAN: Kazakhstan’s thin red line
Open Democracy: How the trial of veteran journalist Seitkazy Mataev heralds an even bleaker future for freedom of speech in Kazakhstan.
PAKISTAN: Pakistan regulator issues three DTH licences
ABU: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has awarded three licences to operate direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting services.
PHILIPPINES: Citizen journalists and advocates bring technology to communities
Rappler: Online platforms and phones are now important tools for advocacies and storytelling in the Philippines.
THAILAND: Thai Prime Minister Cautions News Media on Lese Majeste Law
ABC News: Thailand’s prime minister warned Wednesday that the BBC could be prosecuted if an online report published by its Thai-language service about the country’s new king is found to have violated the law safeguarding the monarchy’s reputation.
THAILAND: Thailand stands by crackdown on ‘illegal’ news
AlJazeera: After furore over BBC piece, official said any news deemed harmful to new King will be considered criminal.
GENERAL: Asian docs evolution underlines region’s potential
TBI Vision
AUSTRALIA: ABC boss Michelle Guthrie urged to abandon ‘perplexing, alarming’ NT broadcast
The Sydney Morning Herald: ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie is facing conflict on a new front after two Labor MPs demanded the national broadcaster reverse a decision over the future of broadcasting in the Northern Territory.
NEW ZEALAND: Media merger hopefuls make their pitch
Radio New Zealand: The Commerce Commission has been meeting in Wellington this week to hear submissions from media firms about the potential effects of a proposed merger by Fairfax and NZME.
NEW ZEALAND: NZ On Air funds six documentaries investigating New Zealand culture and issues
Stuff: Stuff has secured almost half-a-million-dollars of taxpayer funding for two investigative documentaries.
NEW ZEALAND: Why New Zealand’s journalists should push for a new form of ownership
The Guardian: As the regulator listens to arguments over a proposed publishing merger it is time to consider a radical, not-for-profit, solution to the crisis.
PACIFIC: Pacific nations lose shortwave radio services that evade dictators and warn of natural disasters
Relief Web: Australia’s decision to take another step back from international broadcasting by ceasing its far reaching border crossing shortwave radio services has raised questions about who will fill the void.
VANUATU: IFJ praises ‘historic milestone’ with new information law
Pacific Media Watch: On November 24, 2016 the Vanuatu Parliament unanimously passed an Act tabled by Prime Minister Charlot Salwai on the right to information.
BALKANS: Balkan Journalists Vulnerable to Attacks, Study Shows
Balkan Media Watch: A new study conducted in five Balkan countries says journalists in the region enjoy very low levels of protection from physical attacks, death threats and other pressures – and blames governments for doing little or nothing to improve matters.
FRANCE: France Télévisions preps Netflix alternative
TBI Vision: France Televisions hopes to move forward with plans to create a new SVOD platform to distribute French content and offer a counterweight in France to the likes of Netflix and Amazon.
IRELAND: Moya Doherty: We need to talk about the Irish mediascape
The Irish Times: RTÉ wants to be at the centre of a collaborative network of media companies.
NORWAY: Simon Fuller to Produce English Version of Norwegian Teen Drama ‘Shame’
Hollywood Reporter: The NRK series uses compelling narratives in real time with unknown actors and scripts that speak unflinchingly to a 16-year-old audience.
UK: The BBC has been weak on its coverage of climate change
Open Democracy: Opinion piece claiming that the BBC has not been as strong as it could have been when reporting on climate change.
UK: Ofcom to focus on content standards, competition and performance when regulating BBC
Digital Look: As the new external regulator of the BBC from April, Ofcom said it would focus on content standards, protecting fair and effective competition and reviewing the broadcaster’s performance.
UKRAINE: Work in Progress
Transitions Online: Despite state funds earmarked for its activities, Ukrainian public broadcasting still hasn’t materialised.
WESTERN BALKANS: Public Service Television in the Western Balkans: A Mission Impossible
LSE Media Policy Project
GENERAL: Impersonal, Insular, Superficial: Migration Reporting In Europe And Africa
European Journalism Observatory: Content analysis of over 1500 newspaper articles in five African and six European countries reveals coverage of migration from Africa to Europe is generally superficial and parochial.
Journalism: Latest RISJ research highlights that newer publishers seem to be thriving in countries such as Spain and France, rather than the UK and Germany.
GENERAL: EBU names new board members
DIgital TV Europe: The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organisation that represents European public broadcasters, has unveiled its new executive board line-up, with three new additions.
GENERAL: Uncertain future for underfunded public service media sector
Radio Assistant: The funding of public service media has decreased by 3.3 per cent in real terms over the last five year, EBU research show.
BARBADOS: Media needs to be more balanced in gender reporting
Barbados Today: The local media’s reporting on issues of gender came under the microscope today, as the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) formally launched an ethical code of practice for media practitioners here.
COSTA RICA: Costa Rica Takes First Position in America in Freedom of the Press Ranking
The Costa Rica Star: The annual study done by Reporters without borders in relation to the state of the Freedom of the Press in the world in 2016 shows Costa Rica in the sixth position worldwide and the first in America.
Knight Center: Journalism in the Americas: For Mexican journalists, covering la nota roja – or the crime beat – goes beyond being exposed to physical dangers.
Knight Center: Journalism in the Americas.
PERU: Peru premieres its first news programme in in Quechua
By El País: 13% of the population of the Andean country speaks this language.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Union issues warning as media workers get the axe
Trinidad Express Newspapers: The Banking Industrial and General Workers Union (BIGWU) Tuesday threatened to go to the Industrial Court after the Guardian Media Limited (GML) announced plans to lay off at least 16 workers.
ISRAEL: Israel Delays Launch of Public Broadcasting Corporation Until April 2017 at the Earliest
Haaretz: Announcement comes amid Netanyahu’s battle to keep Kan off the air, if not shut it down altogether, in favor of leaving public broadcasting in the hands of the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
TURKEY: Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of December 11
Committee to Protect Journalists
CANADA: CBC/Radio Canada calls for additional funding to go ad-free
Public Media Alliance: Canada’s public broadcaster asks government for CAD$400million funding increase to draw similarities with the BBC’s funding model.
CANADA: Journalists seek asylum in Canada amid Turkish crackdown
The Toronto Star: More than a dozen Turkish journalists have fled to Canada since the failed coup in July. The Erdogan regime is accused of trying to silence critics by suppressing the freedom of press.
USA: How 4 public radio stations in California collaborated to cover the election
Poynter/Medium
USA: PBS Digital Innovators Program Announces Call for Applicants
PBS: Beginning today, educators from across the country—classroom changemakers who excel at using technology and digital media to spark excitement and drive learning in their classrooms—are encouraged to enter the 2017 PBS Digital Innovators Program.
USA: Security risk for sources as U.S. border agents stop and search journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
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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.
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Header Image: Radio tower in San Francisco. Credits: Orin Zebest/Creative Commons
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