Our weekly round-up of public service media related stories and headlines from around the world
Impunity must end
PMA Statement
No journalist should fear reprisals for holding power to account and accurately informing the public. No journalist should feel pressured to self-censor. No journalist should be threatened, attacked or killed for simply doing their job.
A safe environment for free and independent journalism underpins effective democracy, and during times of crisis – such as a global pandemic – it can save lives.
Yet around the world, crimes against journalists continue to be committed with impunity; they go unchecked and unprosecuted. In 2020, 62 journalists were killed for their work. 44 so far this year. According to UNESCO, in nine out of ten cases of the 1200 journalists killed between 2006 and 2020, the killers went unpunished.
This is a global issue. And it has to end. Even in the safest regions, threats and attacks are on the rise. Last year, there were 908 reported attacks on journalists and media workers across the EU. There has also been a dramatic growth in online abuse, with 73% of women journalists facing harassment according to a recent survey.
Read more: Toxic for society when crime goes unpunished – Cilla Benkö (PMA Insight)
Alarmingly, incidents of abuse have been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and, in some cases, encouraged by national leaders. PMA has received numerous reports from its members and other public media organisations about the threats faced by their staff in the field, especially when covering protests and government responses to the pandemic.
On this International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we continue to call on authorities, governments and policymakers to take immediate steps to end attacks on journalists and to end impunity for perpetrators.
What is...
Our weekly explainers for key public media terms, phrases and values.
Week 42: What does LOCALISATION look like?
Localisation is the term used to describe the process of making media content accessible to people outside of the original target country or region. It is a complex process, with content producers having to take into consideration not only different languages, but also different technologies; a country or region’s legal requirements; the needs of visually and/or hearing-impaired users; music rights; and the nuances of cultural differences. ZDF in Germany is one public broadcaster that has a thriving localisation approach. Its localisation work looks like dubbing and subtitling across more than a dozen languages; editing of in-video text such as titles and credits; and the reshooting or editing of programmes to make content more culturally relevant or appropriate. But localisation does not always have to cross borders and public broadcasters such as the BBC and SBS have made original content relevant to their own domestic audiences who speak different languages. Localisation provides an opportunity for public broadcasters to not only demonstrate key public media values such as accessibility, diversity, and universalism, but also allows them to remain competitive as audiences fragment and the world becomes increasingly globalised. At a time when streaming services are also putting great effort and investment into localising much of their advertising and production, it is imperative public media does not fall behind.
We also want to hear about your local public media coverage! Email us!
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.
We want to hear from our members about what you are doing to best cover the crisis on a local level. Email us using the link below.
Coronavirus: Resources & best practices
Essential resources for sourcing and reporting news about the coronavirus pandemic
What we're watching...
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
UNESCO Bangkok: Without journalists, there is no journalism. Without journalism, there is no democracy. Every threat against a journalist is a threat against your freedom.
? Without journalists, there is no journalism.
? Without journalism, there is no democracy.? Every threat against a journalist is a threat against your freedom.
? Let’s stand up to #ProtectJournalists!
? #EndImpunity for Crimes against Journalists: https://t.co/tSRDpG7wpG pic.twitter.com/w8lNVxpkjJ— UNESCO Bangkok ?️ #Education #Sciences #Culture (@unescobangkok) November 2, 2021
What we're listening to...
Te Rito – a new bid to boost diversity in our newsrooms
Mediawatch – RNZ: We’ve had too few journalists of Māori, Pasifika and Asian origin in our newsrooms for decades – and now there’s a new publicly-funded push to turn that round. Four established outlets are backing the Te Rito Journalism project. How will this work? And what’s the endgame?
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CAMEROON: Govt preparing law on free access to information (19 October)
Journal du Cameroun: The Minister of Communication, Rene Emmanuel Sadi has reiterated Cameroon’s commitment to ensure easy access to quality information as provided for by the various instruments in the Constitution.
EGYPT: Egypt’s parliament to tighten laws against releasing army-related data
The New Arab: The Egyptian parliament has initially approved toughening up penalties against whoever releases army-related data without the defence ministry’s written consent.
EGYPT: State of emergency lifted but restrictive laws still in place
Middle East Eye: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced on 25 October that he had lifted the national state of emergency, but laws he has adopted since he took power are as restrictive as the state of emergency itself, say rights groups.
ETHIOPIA: Stop Broadcasting International News! – Regulator Tells Local Media Outlets
BMA: Ethiopia’s media regulator recently ordered a local radio and television station to stop broadcasting international news.
GHANA: GBC & International Youth Fellowship of Korea to exchange broadcasting content
GBC Online: The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GBC and the International Youth Fellowship of Korea will in November 2021, sign an MOU to exchange content and training programs, locally and internationally.
GHANA: GHA partners GBC to safeguard roads and reservations
Business Ghana: The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) is seeking a partnership with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), to educate the public, particularly active road users on basic dos and don’ts on roads.
GHANA: Work with commitment and speed – Oppong Nkrumah to GBC Reorganisation C’ttee
Ghana Web: Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has charged the newly constituted Committee overseeing the reorganisation of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to work with commitment while also speeding up efforts at repositioning the state broadcaster as one of the leading players in the Ghanaian media landscape.
GUINEA: RSF visits Guinea to promote press freedom during transition
RSF: Less than two months after President Alpha Condé’s removal by military coup d’état on 5 September, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has just completed a two-day visit to Guinea.
KENYA: Develop Security Plans For Journalists, Media Houses Asked
Kenya News: Media houses have been asked to make security arrangements for journalists as the country gears towards the 2022 General Election.
KENYA: Internship programme: KBC and MCK sign pact
KBC: The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation has partnered with the Media Council of Kenya to offer Industrial attachment to Journalism students across the country.
NAMIBIA: Supreme Court affirms public’s right to know
Namibian: COURT records must be kept open and accessible to the public and the media, the Supreme Court has stated in a judgement delivered yesterday.
NIGERIA: Broadcasters Regulatory Body Underway – Say Industry Umbrella Body
BMA: The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) plans to establish The Society of Nigerian Broadcasters as a governing body for the practice of broadcasting in Nigeria.
NIGERIA: Buhari doesn’t support impunity/crime against Journalists – Femi Adesina
Vanguard: The special adviser to President Muhammad Buhari, on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, Tuesday said that the current administration does not support crime or impunity against Journalists in the country.
SOUTH AFRICA: Elections 2021: Journalist covering vote released after arrest in Soweto
News24: Newzroom Afrika journalist Ziniko Mhlaba was arrested on Monday while covering the municipal elections in Soweto.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC News crew attacked by angry mob at Talana Hostel in Limpopo
SABC: A SABC News crew – who were covering the local government elections (LGE) – has been accosted by a mob of angry residents at the Talana Hostel in Tzaneen Limpopo on Monday.
SOUTH AFRICA: SABC Radio Portfolio continues to make great strides in the industry (Press release)
SABC: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is pleased to see a growth in its listenership, following the release of the Broadcast Research Council (BRC) of South Africa AMPLIFY™’s latest RAMS data and radio currency.
SOUTH AFRICA: The SABC acquires TV broadcast rights for the NBA (Press release)
SABC: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), through SABC Sport is pleased to announce an exciting multiyear television broadcast rights agreement with the National Basketball Association (NBA).
SUDAN: Sudan’s people have a taste of democracy and free expression. They want more. (Opinion – paywall)
Washington Post
TUNISIA: Tunisia closes TV station of president’s political rival
DW: Tunisia’s independent media regulator shuttered Nessma TV, owned by President Kais Saied’s political rival. Quran Kareem, a religious radio station, was also closed.
UGANDA: Govt, Ugandan Media Not on Same Page Over Registering Journalists
AllAfrica: The government has renewed its push to have journalists accredited by the Uganda Media Council if they want to attend public events.
UGANDA: Jury Still Out On Whether Regulators ‘Watershed Hours’ Mandate Apply To Radio
BMA: The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) introduced a new term to many Ugandans, including journalists, a few weeks ago: “watershed hours.”
REGIONAL: Media critical partner in dissemination of court process – African Court
My Joy Online (via GNA): The African Court on Human and People’s Rights says in strategic or public interest human rights litigation, the media are critical before, during, and after any successful justice process.
AFGHANISTAN: Watchdog: 30 recent cases of violence against Afghan journalists
Al Jazeera: The Afghanistan National Journalists Union says 90 percent of violence against journalists committed by the Taliban.
BANGLADESH: Alarming offensive by Bangladesh’s ruling party against journalists based abroad
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the leaders of the Awami League, the party that has ruled Bangladesh since 2009, to end all intimidation of journalists who dare to continue criticising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s policies after fleeing the country.
BANGLADESH: Editors voice concern over press freedom
The Daily Star: Free press is under an onslaught from multiple spheres — beginning from the legal system, to the corporate domination of the media, to politicisation of journalists, said speakers at an event organised by Sampadak Parishad yesterday.
CHINA: China’s state-controlled media are put on an even shorter leash (Paywall)
The Economist: All the news sources that may be republished sound similar.
HONG KONG: Blog: Protecting journalists means safeguarding internet freedom in Hong Kong
Article 19: Hong Kong, once relatively free, has become a microcosm of the global assault on journalists and online expression.
HONG KONG: Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 16
HKFP: Amnesty pulls out of Hong Kong, marathon runners made to hide political attire, another student union folds, and lawmakers pass a film censorship, anti-doxxing and updated flag law – HKFP rounds up month 16 of the security law.
INDIA: India Today parent company sues media watchdog Newslaundry
CPJ: The Indian media conglomerate TV Today Network must respect the journalistic right to freedom of expression and should immediately drop its lawsuit against the news website and media watchdog Newslaundry, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
INDIA: Journalists arrested for reporting on legislative assembly members
IFJ: Journalist Madhukar Dubey, owner of web-portal zeroparty.in, and the portal’s technical assistant Avinash Palliwar, both from Chhattisgarh state, were arrested by police on October 25 for their report on local political leaders.
INDONESIA: Indonesian internet blocks amid social unrest lawful, court rules
Reuters: Indonesia’s decision to block internet access during periods of social unrest was lawful, its constitutional court ruled on Wednesday, in a move activists said sets a dangerous precedent for internet freedom in the world’s third largest democracy.
JAPAN: Japan’s journalists are increasingly going global (Interview)
IPI: New IPI Executive Board member Hiroki Sugita chats to IPI about what’s needed to make Japanese journalism fit for the future.
MALAYSIA: Malaysia: Government secures seat at UN Human Rights Council
IFJ: On October 15, Malaysia secured a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2022 – 2024 term with 183 votes. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges the Malaysian government to fulfil its role in upholding human rights in and create a safe and enabling environment for the media to carry out its responsibilities without fear of discriminatory restrictions or interference.
NEPAL: Media Action Nepal calls on government to end impunity for crimes against journalists
The Himalayan Times: Media Action Nepal, a media rights advocacy organization, has called on the government to abolish impunity for crimes against journalists, claiming that it is a continual impediment to free press in Nepal.
PAKISTAN: ‘Media continues to face attacks, curbs on free expression’
Dawn: Media in Pakistan works within an increasingly repressive environment with attacks on press freedom coming from all fronts and space for free expression continuously shrinking.
PAKISTAN: Pakistan’s shrinking space for free expression
IFEX: Pakistan Press Foundation released two reports that underscored the continuing attacks facing journalists in Pakistan. One of the reports also documented increasing online attacks targeting women journalists.
PHILIPPINES: After winning Nobel, Maria Ressa allowed by CA to travel to US for Harvard lectures
Rappler: The Philippine Court of Appeals (CA) has finally granted overseas travel to Rappler CEO and Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa, who will be in the United States for the entire month of November to deliver a series of lectures at the Harvard Kennedy School in Boston.
SOUTH KOREA: KBS under fire for program on beleaguered actor Kim Seon-ho
Korea Herald: Public broadcaster KBS has come under fire for what viewers say was unnecessary programming concerning the beleaguered actor Kim Seon-ho.
TAIWAN: Taiwan TV Festival Now Live
World Screen: Te Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) was formed in June 2019 under the oversight of Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture with the remit of supporting a range of content industries, including film and television.
THAILAND: Thai PBS Learning Shelf promoting learning to 222 Border Patrol Police schools across the country (Press release – Thai)
Thai PBS
TIMOR-LESTE: Journalist Max Stahl ‘changed the fate of East Timor’, says Xanana
Asia-Pacific Report: Former Timor-Leste President Xanana Gusmão today lamented the death of journalist and filmmaker Max Stahl, recalling that his work had “changed the fate of the nation”.
VIETNAM: Combined jail terms of five Vietnamese journalists total nearly 15 years
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) deplores the sentences of up to four and a half years in prison that a court in the city of Can Tho, in southern Vietnam, has just passed on five journalists who produced an online newspaper specialising in coverage of corruption and related issues.
REGIONAL: As Asia ‘lives with covid-19’, media may need to be less adversarial
Asia Pacific Report
AUSTRALIA: ABC opinion or fact? (Watch)
Mediawatch ABC: Is it opinion or fact to call the vaccine rollout ‘bungled’? Senator David Van questions ABC bosses over three radio news stories.
AUSTRALIA: The ABC’s vibe may be more left than right, but ‘cancelling’ it is not the answer (Opinion)
Sydney Morning Herald: The free-market Institute of Public Affairs think tank is starting a new podcast series called Their ABC: What’s wrong with the ABC and how to fix it.
AUSTRALIA: Active Policy Needed to Stop Decline of Journalism
The Australia Institute Centre for Future Work: Information industries have lost some 60,000 jobs in Australia in the last 15 years, almost half during the COVID-19 pandemic. And a new research report highlights the need for active policy supports to stabilise the media industry, and protect the public good function of quality journalism.
AUSTRALIA: MEAA calls for halt to ‘slow erosion’ of media to safeguard democracy
Asia-Pacific Report: Australia’s union for journalists says Australian journalism is in crisis after years of disruption, undermining and neglect, and swift action is needed to halt the decline.
AUSTRALIA: Response to the IPA attack on the ABC (Watch)
ABC Alumni
FIJI: Fiji’s Media Industry Education Set To Get Refreshing Boost
Fiji Sun: Journalism Education for the country’s growing news media industry is set to get a boost. The University of Fiji is developing a new bachelor of journalism and media studies degree.
NEW ZEALAND: Cabinet delays decision on new public broadcaster
Newsroom: Broadcasting and Media Minister Kris Faafoi has received the final business case on the public broadcasting plan for TVNZ and RNZ but it won’t be considered by Cabinet until the New Year.
NEW ZEALAND: The case for cutting the coverage of anti-vaxxers
Mediawatch RNZ: Anti-vaxxers have been in the news a lot recently, and all the coverage is putting the media in danger of becoming a vector for misleading or false messages.
NEW ZEALAND: PM Jacinda Ardern moves covid media conference after conspiracy heckling
RNZ: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the government wants to lift vaccination rates and wants to remove anything that is a barrier to getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.
AUSTRIA: What consequences the turquoise resignations have for ORF (German)
Der Standard: Roland Weißmann, who is well connected to the Turquoise, will be the new ORF General Director from January 2022. What do the turquoise resignations mean for Austria’s largest media company?
BELARUS & GERMANY: Belarus blocks Deutsche Welle
Broadband TV News: Belarus has blocked the website of Deutsche Welle (DW) on the grounds that it is spreading “extremist content”.
BELGIUM: CEO VRT calls for more cooperation within the media sector (Dutch)
VRT: Frederik Delaplace, CEO of the VRT, calls for more cooperation within the media sector, in order to be strong locally against international players.
DENMARK: Live concerts and lots of Danish music in Spil Dansk Ugen on DR (Press release – Danish)
DR: Play Danish adorns DR’s surfaces the first week of November. It culminates with the new concept ‘Spil Dansk Live’, which offers live concerts from four different Spil Dansk cities in Denmark with, among others, Aura Dione, Jung, Phlake and iomfro.
FINLAND: Finland charges three journalists with disclosing ‘state secrets’
IPI: IPI strongly criticizes decision to prosecute Helsingin Sanomat journalists following four-year investigation.
FINLAND: Yle continues to be a perpetual favorite of the humanists and is one of the most interesting employers in the public sector in the IT sector (Press release – Finnish)
Yle: Among the humanities and IT professionals, the company’s work culture and values were emphasized as ideal employer characteristics.
FRANCE: Radio France: two layoffs and three layoffs for harassment and sexism (French)
Le Monde: An internal investigation was carried out in response to journalist Marie Portolano’s documentary on sexism in sports newsrooms. One of the witnesses was Amaia Cazenave, a rugby specialist in the radio group.
GERMANY: NDR and Media Broadcast trial 5G Broadcast in Hamburg
Broadcast TV News: German public broadcaster NDR and transmitter network operator Media Broadcast launched a 5G Broadcast test network in Hamburg on October 26, 2021.
GREECE: INTERVIEW WITH GEORGIOS GABRITSOS, CEO OF ERT
EBU: Georgios Gabritsos, CEO of ERT, talks to Beatriz Pastor y Puga, EBU Head of Member Relations South, about priorities and a digital roadmap for Greece’s public service media.
IRELAND: RTÉ and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland increase investment in homegrown drama with new Storyland series
RTÉ: RTÉ and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland seek new creative talent to commission brand new drama to be broadcast on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
ITALY: RAI VIRTUAL LIS: AN AVATAR FOR SIGN LANGUAGE APPLICATIONS
EBU: The Rai Virtual LIS platform enables the production of content in Italian sign language (LIS) using avatars to create new opportunities and services for deaf people in contexts where human LIS interpreters are not provided.
MALTA: Media Fight for Justice, Better Protection in Malta
VOA
MONACO: Monaco to join TV5 Monde network (Paywall)
Telecompaper: The Swiss Federal Council has given the green light to allow the Principality of Monaco to join the TV5 Monde television network as a new partner state. The network includes France, Belgium, Canada and Quebec, in addition to Switzerland.
RUSSIA: Russia: Media Freedom Coalition statement (October 2021) (Statement)
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: The Media Freedom Coalition has released a statement on the treatment of journalists in Russia.
SLOVAKIA: SLOVAK MEDIA SUFFERS EFFECTS OF ‘BOTHSIDEISM’ IN COVID-19 DEBATE
Balkan Insight: COVID-19 has had the unfortunate side effect of a large section of Slovak society believing in misinformation and disinformation about the pandemic. By acceding to demands for ‘false balance’ in their reporting, the media is not helping matters.
SLOVENIA: Collection of opinions and proposals during the preparation of the White Paper on the role of RTV Slovenia (Press release – Slovenian)
RTV SLO: With the preparation of the White Paper, we are opening a public debate on the position and financing of RTV Slovenia.
SPAIN: Pérez Tornero (RTVE): “Our budget is reasonable with the country we have. I am not going to ask for more. Stability” (Spanish)
El Confidencial Digital: The president of RTVE, José Manuel Pérez Tornero, affirmed this Wednesday that the budget of the public Corporation for the next year 2022 is “reasonable” with respect to the situation the country is going through. “This means that I will not ask for more. Stability,” he said.
SWEDEN: New report: How the Swedish media coped with the corona pandemic
Nordicom: Continued decrease in advertising revenues, but increased media consumption, growing consumer revenues and a doubled press and media support. In addition, the media companies reduced their costs.
SWEDEN: The battle for truth – what responsibility does science journalism have? (Event – Swedish)
SVT: The pandemic and the climate crisis have put science journalism in the spotlight even more. What are the challenges of monitoring topics that are so hotly debated as climate change, vaccines and forests?
SWEDEN: Who wants to be a Climate Friend? (Blog – Swedish)
UR: Yes, who wants to be a good climate buddy? There are probably many who want to, we thought of UR when we developed the concept Klimatkompis.
SWITZERLAND: Broad support for direct funding of Swiss media
Swissinfo: The coronavirus pandemic has further weakened Switzerland’s already struggling media industry. To help news organisations, the authorities want to give the press more financial aid.
UK: BBC plan outlines push for fair, accurate and unbiased content (Press release)
BBC: The new plan is informed by the Serota Review into governance and culture, which is also published today.
UK: BBC: why enhancing the public broadcaster’s fact-checking would strengthen its impartiality
The Conversation: From the 1926 General Strike, through the 1956 Suez Canal crisis, to the more recent Brexit debate and the COVID-19 pandemic, how the BBC tries to ensure impartiality in its journalism has always generated fierce debates about its independence.
iNews: A minnow alongside other bulletins, 5 News is aiming to set itself apart – and that includes letting viewers send messages to presenters while they’re live in air.
UK: New listening figures show continued importance of live radio (Press release)
BBC: New listening figures show the continued success and importance of live radio as Rajar returns with a new methodology, after being suspended in March 2020.
REGIONAL: Joint Statement on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
European Commission: Ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Vice-President Věra Jourová issued the following statement.
REGIONAL: Podcasts on their own platform strengthen the companies’ independence (Swedish)
Nordvision: The fear turned out to be unjustified. When NRK decided to, with the carrot rather than the whip, start leading the listeners to their own platform NRK Radio, the users were on the notes. Yle is also actively working during the autumn to make its own platform number one for public service podcasts.
EBU: Media organizations face unique sustainability challenges – for instance, did you know that even distributing and streaming video leaves a carbon footprint?
ARGENTINA: Argentine media outlets warn the press of ‘abuses’ (Spanish)
Diario Libre: The Association of Journalistic Entities of Argentina (Adepa), which brings together the country’s media companies, warned about the ‘outrages’ that alter the freedom to exercise journalistic work in the country South American.
ARGENTINA: What does the brand new “Media and ICT Literacy Program” consist of? (Spanish)
CBA24n: This Tuesday, resolution 1705/2021 of the National Communications Agency (Enacom) was published in the Official Gazette, which provides for the creation of the “Media Literacy and Information and Communication Technologies” Program.
BAHAMAS: Broadcasting Corporation Celebrates 44 Years of Television (21 October)
ZNS Bahamas: The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas celebrated its 44th year of bringing television to Bahamian viewers, October 20, 2021 at the corporation’s offices.
BRAZIL: Brazilian journalistic outlets use public policies to promote culture to get resources
LatAm Journalism Review: Created as a blog in 2013, Desenrola e Não Me Enrola (Unwind and Don’t Wind Me Up) currently has a fixed team of six people and ten employees who publish 20 articles per month for an audience of 20,000 users.
The Guardian: Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s security detail allegedly used violence against Brazilian reporters covering his trip to Rome for the G20 meeting, local media reported.
MEXICO AND BRAZIL: Mexico and Brazil again on CPJ’s Global Impunity Index
LatAm Journalism Review: Occupying the same places as in 2020, Mexico and Brazil are the Latin American countries that are part of the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) annual list of countries where crimes against journalists go unpunished.
MEXICO: Impunity: Mexico
IFJ: No. of journalists killed since 2011: 104 Cases unsolved: 95%. Fifteen years after the country’s military launched the war on drug trafficking, crimes against Mexican press workers and their disappearances are emblematic of the systemic violence which has flowed from it.
MEXICO: Two more Mexican journalists killed as reporters condemn worsening violence
The Guardian: Veteran reporter Fredy López Arévalo shot and killed inside his home while photojournalist Alfredo Cardoso taken by gunmen.
NICARAGUA: Eight press freedom threats to watch ahead of Nicaragua’s presidential elections
CPJ: On November 7, Nicaraguans are set to go to the polls to vote for president, the culmination of a campaign that has included the detention of opposition candidates, the banning of civil society organizations, and continued suppression of the country’s independent press.
PERU: Carlos Jornet: “I hope Peru does not fall into autocracy” (Spanish – Interview)
Perú21: President of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information analyzed the escalation of repression of the press in other countries and called on the Castillo government.
URUGUAY: Uruguay to host 2022 World Press Freedom Day Conference
UNESCO: With Uruguay as the host of the 2022 World Press Freedom Day, the global conference returns to Latin America and the Caribbean after almost a decade since the event took place in San Jose, Costa Rica.
VENEZUELA: Media are already at the disposal of the parties for the electoral campaign (Spanish)
El Nacional: The national public media system is at the disposal of political parties for the dissemination of their campaigns, in view of the regional elections to be held on November 21, the Minister of Communication of Nicolás Maduro, Freddy Ñañez, reported on Wednesday.
IRAN: Iran: A Prison for Free Expression
VOA: Jailing of members of Iranian Writers Association, other critics highlights Tehran’s restrictive views on free speech, analysts say.
IRAN: Iranian journalist tops ‘10 Most Urgent’ list of press freedom cases (Paywall)
Boston Globe: In conjunction with The International Day to End Impunity, Nov. 2, the One Free Press Coalition, … is highlighting cases of journalists murdered around the world, where those responsible for their murder have still not been held to account.
IRAN: Iran’s parliament moves forward with troubling bill to further restrict internet
CPJ: The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern today that Iran’s parliament is moving ahead with a restrictive internet bill, despite objections from citizens and international observers.
ISRAEL & CHINA: How China Learned to Harness Israel’s Media and Booming Tech Scene
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: To bolster their influence in Israel, Chinese players have leveraged local Hebrew language media to calibrate their messages for Israeli audiences.
JORDAN: How Jordan Censors Journalists (Opinion)
Foreign Policy: The director of the only media outlet in the country to cover the Pandora Papers speaks out.
LEBANON: Lebanon: Independent media and judiciary vital in the path towards justice
Via IFEX: Amidst the ongoing pursuit for accountability for the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, rights groups stress the need for an independent judiciary and an independent media delivering accurate information on judicial proceedings.
PALESTINE: New platform for documenting digital censorship of Palestinians
Al Jazeera: Groups say online tool is more relevant now than ever in light of recent mass censorship of Palestinian content in May.
TURKEY: Turkey as global ‘laboratory’ for press freedom attacks (Blog)
IPI: Newly elected IPI vice chair Emre Kızılkaya on biggest challenges to independent journalism in Turkey — and how the IPI global network can address them.
YEMEN: Nabil Alosaidi: Press freedom in Yemen has been sentenced to death (Watch)
Swiss info
YEMEN: Two journalists imprisoned in southern Yemen
RSF: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is concerned about the persecution of media personnel in the Aden region, in southern Yemen, where two journalists have been detained for the past several weeks with no reason being given and their families not knowing where they are held. They must be released at once, RSF says.
CANADA: “A thumb in the eye of transparency”: CAJ denounces BC’s proposed FOI amendments
CAJ: The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) calls on B.C. Premier John Horgan’s government to immediately reverse course and abandon its outrageous plan to impose a $25 tariff on requests for information made under the province’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
CANADA: CBC is keeping Facebook comments closed on news posts (Press release)
CBC: We hope to make online spaces safer by minimizing harassment and abuse of our story subjects, commenters.
CANADA: Google Canada launches program paying for news
Guelph Mercury Tribune: Cash started flowing from Google to Canadian publishers Wednesday as the tech giant brought a program that pays media companies for news to the country.
US: Congress Urged to Revisit Editorial Firewall Protections of US-Funded Media Networks
VOA: A government report is recommending that Congress pass legislation to better define editorial firewalls at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA.
US: Cronkite School celebrates Media Literacy Week
Arizona PBS: This is media literacy week, an event put on by the National Association of Media Literacy Education that involves using news, social media, movies and music to better develop critical thinking skills.
US: Knight Foundation funds engagement project for public radio (Paywall)
Current: Southern California Public Radio has received a $230,000 grant from the Knight Foundation to lead a yearlong community engagement project with a cohort of public radio stations.
US: Knowing what audiences want has powered growth for PBS Digital Studios (Paywall)
Current: After learning how to build loyal audiences, the unit is looking ahead to new platforms and deeper work with member stations.
US: PBS Celebrates Indigenous Peoples During Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month (Press release)
PBS: In recognition of Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month in November, PBS will present programming that shines a spotlight on the history, culture and accomplishments of these Indigenous peoples, including the broadcast of INDEPENDENT LENS “Home From School: The Children of Carlisle.”
US: Public Media’s Bridge Builder
TCBMag: On her first day as president and CEO of American Public Media Group, Jean Taylor led a Zoom call discussion that was open to all of the nonprofit’s 700 employees.
US: Westdoc explores diversity in public broadcasting with filmmaker Grace Lee
RealScreen: Realscreen is partnering with filmmaker and executive producer Chuck Braverman and his Westdoc Online video series to bring his interviews with acclaimed documentarians and non-fiction content industry figures to its readership.
US: What happens when the news desert is in your own backyard?
Nieman Lab: Cambridge, Massachusetts — a rich, educated city home to some of the world’s most powerful institutions — is at least for now without its last full-time local newspaper reporter.
A Better Way to Tell Protest Stories
Center for Media Engagement: Protest coverage often casts protesters and their causes in a negative light, particularly when covering underrepresented groups.
How close should we get? Media and conflict
DW Akademie: DW Akademie’s publication collects stories from around the world exploring various roles media play with regard to conflict.
I Was Hacked. The Spyware Used Against Me Makes Us All Vulnerable.
The New York Times: Invasive hacking software sold to countries to fight terrorism is easily abused. Researchers say my phone was hacked twice, probably by Saudi Arabia.
Impunity Day: Insufficient progress in solving killings of journalists
IPI: IPI renews call to end the culture of impunity for crimes against journalists around the world.
Media Freedom Coalition on International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Every year many journalists and media workers get killed simply for covering the news and sharing information with a wider audience.
Pandora Papers journalists face government backlash for investigating financial secrecy
ICIJ: Immediately after the blockbuster exposé was published, officials around the world responded with crackdowns, fiery denials and denouncements, and personal attacks.
Remote Radio Week begins November 1 (Event)
Radioinfo Asia: A week devoted to helping radio stations broadcast remotely begins on Monday.
Report: Over 80% of People Who Kill Journalists Walk Free
VOA News: A report released Thursday by the Committee to Protect Journalists reinforced what press freedom experts have stressed for years: The killers of journalists often walk free.
Respect the right to cover the environment, RSF and journalists tell COP26
RSF: On the eve of the United Nations COP26 climate change conference that is due to begin in Glasgow, Scotland, on 1 November, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and more than 60 environmental journalists of 34 different nationalities are appealing for respect for the right to cover environmental issues.
SLAPP lawsuits are a growing tool for stopping investigative journalism around the world
Nieman Lab: The powerful may know they won’t win in court — but they can certainly drain the resources of the news outlet doing work they don’t like along the way.
Too many journalists are dying on the job. The People’s Tribunal is about to name and shame the killers. (Opinion – Paywall)
The Washington Post: The Post’s contributing columnist, Hamid Mir, writes about the importance of the Permanent People’s Tribunal, a forum organised by civil society groups which takes place in The Hague on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. The hearings shed light on harassment cases and journalist killings worldwide.
Want to be a collaborative manager? Check out this playbook.
Center for Cooperative Media: In an era of journalism when the phrase “job cuts” can be all too familiar, the rise of collaborative journalism brings new ways to participate in the journalism industry, and notably, new roles and jobs.
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