Our weekly round-up of public service media news stories from around the world.

20 June – 26 June


Africa

China, Africa Agree to Strengthen Media Cooperation

From All Africa: China and numerous African countries have agreed to up cooperation “to improve quality through experience sharing on implementation of media policies, capacity building programmes for journalists, digitalization and development of new media.”


China’s StarTimes Intensifies Digital Revolution in Africa – Signs Agreements With Broadcast Institutions

From the Global News Network: China’s StarTimes Group is intensifying digital revolution and expanding its coverage in Africa as its signs additional agreements with African broadcast institutions for migration from analog to digital and quality content building.


Deaths, detainments mount as media environment worsens in South Sudan

From Columbia Journalism Review


SABC sticks to its guns about not broadcasting violent protests

From Business Day Live: The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) says its decision not to show footage of violent protests is in line with the Constitution and the Broadcasting Act.


SANEF shocked by SABC suspensions

From the South African National Editors’ Forum: SANEF issue statement regarding the suspension of three journalists at SABC


Asia

All India Radio to launch channel for cross-border listeners

From The Indian Express: New Bengali channel to be launched which aims to blend content from Bangladesh and India


Asia-Pacific climate change reporting skills need boost but media ‘lacking resources’

From Asia-Pacific Report: Media experts say journalism institutions lack the resources needed to raise the quality and awareness of environmental reportage in the Asia-Pacific region.


Duterte’s tough stance, impunity big challenge for media in Philippines

From Asia Pacific Report: Strained relations between the President-elect of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, and much of the news media before he even takes office this week pose challenging times for the nation.


Evaluating use, abuse of public frequencies

From the Jakarta Post: Three recent incidents barely attracted attention despite the significant impact they will have on the democratic consolidation of the content and flow of information in Indonesia’s media at present and in the future.


Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific

APN News and Media to sell regional media division to News Corp for $36.6m

From ABC News: APN News and Media has announced it will sell its Australian regional media division to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp for $36.6 million.


Blanket censorship of social media announced for all Government workers

From Vanuatu Daily Digest: According to Radio Vanuatu News the Public Service Commission is forbidding government workers from accessing social media


Opposition renew calls for media charter, after Mike Hosking petition gains traction

From Stuf.nz: New Zealand’s opposition party are calling for a new public service broadcaster that operates under charter following public complaints.


Viceland to launch in Australia in partnership with SBS

From SBS: New channel will feature all-new shows covering culture, music, sports, fashion, technology and more from around the world


Europe

Adaption of the German Press Council’s regulation to online-specific circumstances

From the European Centre for Press & Media Freedom: Applicability and implementation of the German Press Code for online publications and related user comments has long been an issue. But now a solution may have been found


#greekdocs: an archive for documentaries about the crisis in Greece

From Open Democracy


International Press Freedom Delegation Concludes Trip to Croatia

From Total Croatia News: Delegation of six press freedom organisations call for political leaders to guarantee independence of PSB HRT and “national electronic media regulator”


Is the BBC safe in Ofcom’s hands?

From LSE: With the prospect of Ofcom regulating the BBC, two renowned media professors set out some of the key challenges.


New Albanian director general embarks on reforms at broadcaster

From the EBU: New Director General keen to work on reforms and regain trust of the audience in “important democratic institution”


Swiss media must reform to follow digital transformations

From the Public Media Alliance: According to a federal report, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) must keep transforming and adapting to the new digital landscape that is affecting public media globally.


Latin America & the Caribbean

Freedom of expression experts warn of interference with the Brazilian Public Broadcaster and the National Controller’s Office

From UN Human Rights – Office of the High Commissioner: Experts express their concern at measures taken by the interim Federal Government in Brazil intervening in the administration of the Brazilian Public Broadcaster (EBC)


Mexican journalist killed while covering teachers’ protest in Oaxaca

From Journalism in the Americas (Knight Center): Mexican reporter Elidio Ramos Zárate, who had been covering a teachers’ union protest in Oaxaca, was killed on June 19 while taking a photo of a robbery in-progress at a convenience store, according to newspaper El Universal.


Latin American fact-checking pioneers emphasize importance of access to information

From Journalism in the Americas (Knight Center): Latin American journalists and editors gathered in Buenos Aires earlier this month to share experiences and successful methods for fact-checking.


Middle East

Culture minister blasts future Public Broadcasting Corporation

From the Jerusalem Post: Miri Regev targeted the yet to be established Public Broadcasting Corporation, saying she would not waste public funds on an “elitist station” that does not reflect the demographic composition of the nation.


Demonstration outside Istanbul prison holding RSF’s representative

From Reporters without Borders: Demonstrations by Turkish and international human rights supporters took place outside prison holding Erol Önderoglu


North America

As NPR One draws younger audience, network aims to expand local presence

From Current: NPR is working to help more stations contribute to NPR One, its streaming audio app that has proven successful at drawing new listeners to public radio content since its launch in 2014.


Pubmedia groups and stations insist FCC disclosure rules are ‘ill-founded’

From Current: Four national public broadcasting organizations are continuing to press the FCC to reconsider changes to its ownership disclosure rules for stations and board members.


Democrats stream gun control sit-in on Periscope after Republicans turn TV cameras off

From The Guardian: Lawmakers used live-stream video app Periscope and Facebook Live to broadcast their protest over gun control, in what TV network calls ‘a first’


Other

Film4Climate global video competition

From Connect4Climate: The Film4Climate Global Video Competition invites filmmakers between the ages of 14-35 years old from all over the world to showcase their talents and create a Public Service Advertisement or a Short Film about climate action.


Who owns the news consumer: Social media platforms or publishers?

From Columbia Journalism Review: THE RELATIONSHIP between news organizations and platform companies has become far closer far more quickly than anyone predicted.


Word Summit on Media for Children 2020 – Call For Tenders

From ABU: 2017 summit for producers, broadcasters and regulators of media for children and other professionals and community leaders has been announced.


 

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

These stories are provided for interest and 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.