Our weekly round-up of public service media news stories from around the world.
4 July – 10 July
Africa
Helen Suzman Foundation launches court case against SABC censorship
From ScreenAfrica: Court bid launched to stop SABC censoring reports of protests.
Ethiopia blocks Facebook and other social media for exams
From BBC News:
New broadcast programming code takes effect in Kenya
From The Citizen: Licensees had been given enough time to comply with the new code which had been published in the Kenya Gazette in December 2015.
New SABC editorial policy illegal, says ANC
From Business Day Live: New rules and editorial policies are unconstitutional according to the ANC, after weeks of censorship accusations.
Nigeria: Concerns Remain As Nigerians Await Digital Migration
From This Day via AllAfrica: Audiences are concerned about digital migration in Nigeria.
SABC must broadcast violent protests: ICASA
From MyBroadband: ICASA has ordered the SABC to withdraw its decision not to broadcast violent protest footage.
Asia
BTV-Bangladesh upgrades Production equipment
From Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
Cambodian PM scraps honorific requirement for media
From World Bulletin: Cambodia’s prime minister has scrapped a requirement for all news organizations to refer to him as “samdech” — or “lord” — just a day after the government issued a “final warning” to media outlets telling them to use the honorific or risk being shut down.
Experts discuss UHD broadcasting standards
From The Korea Times: The nation’s science ministry held a public hearing to select an ultra-high-definition (UHD) territorial broadcasting standard, Monday, before its planned demonstration in next February.
Indonesia says claims of media restrictions wrong
From Radio New Zealand: The Indonesian Government is taking issue with claims it is not ensuring media freedom.
Minor’s death sentence sees Japan media split on anonymity rule
From The Japan Times: Interesting case study as to whether juveniles can be named in media following certain crimes.
NHK-Japan builds 8K media player
From Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific
Chinese language newspapers in Australia: Beijing controls messaging, propaganda in press
From the Sydney Morning Herald: Accusations of Chinese government influence over Chinese language press in Australia.
Row over Nauru media access widens ahead of poll
From Radio New Zealand: Nauru’s former Director of Media says a statement from the government that there has never been state political advertising is an absolute lie.
SBS to launch a New Channel in Australia
From Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union: The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is to partner with VICE, the global youth brand, to launch a new channel in Australia.
Vanuatu PM tells broadcaster board to resign over financial woes, porn screening
From Asia Pacific Report: Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has reportedly asked the chairman of the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation board, Johnety Jerety, general manager Fred Vurobaravu and all the board members to resign.
WJEC16: Oceania Interrupted give journalism educators a taste of Papua
From Asia Pacific Report: The first event of the 4th World Journalism Education Congress conference 2016 got under way at the JERAA and Pacific preconference last night with an inspirational korero from Oceania Interrupted about “Free West Papua”.
WJEC16: Samoan media face challenges on free speech journey
From Asia Pacific Report: The challenges faced by working journalists in Samoa to ensure freedom of speech are discussed at the WJEC.
Europe
BBC names Anne Bulford as deputy director general
From The Guardian: Restructure of executive team leaves finance chief in prime position to be first woman in corporation’s top job
BBC to axe almost 100 monitoring jobs in bid to save £4m
From the Guardian: Union criticises plan to close Afghan base and relocate headquarters from Caversham Park, Reading to London
Facing reality after the Euromaidan: RSF presents a new report on Ukraine
From RSF: New report released about the situation of journalists in Uklraine.
Lord Puttnam: the BBC must confront a “total” loss of trust
From LSE Media Policy Project: Interview with Lord Puttnam about his recent report on the future of public television in the UK and its ongoing relevance post-Brexit.
Media giants dominate European TV, US influence growing
From Digital TV Europe: A group of 15 media giants dominate pay TV within the European Union, accounting for almost 70% of the bloc’s pay TV homes, according to new research.
No change to UK PSB retrans fees, despite law amendment
From Digital TV Europe: The UK government will repeal a law that says pay TV operators need not pay fees to carry commercial public service channels, but said it expects no change to the status quo.
Poland’s conservative government continues to interfere with public media
From PMA: Government control of public state media in Poland hasn’t faltered with at least 163 journalists and media professionals being fired or leaving their positions.
Russian TV network breaches UK broadcasting rules
From World Bulletin
The BBC and public service TV has a future – but it must change to survive
From The Conversation: An overview from The Conversation about the outcomes from the Future of Television report in the UK
Under 25s TV viewing falls by quarter
From BBC News: People under 25 are watching just over a quarter less broadcast TV than in 2010, an Ofcom review into public service broadcasting (PSB) has found.
Latin America
Freedom of The Press In Brazil Faces Big Challenges Ahead of Rio Olympics
From the International Business Times: Shrinking newsroom budgets are limiting the press’ ability to cover many important issues and the upcoming Olympics could further spread resources thin.
From Radio World: Read about the preparation needed to cover the World’s largest sporting event.
Violent attack to press freedom in Argentina
From Open Democracy: The cooperative weekly newspaper Tiempo Argentino, was attacked in the early hours of Monday. July 4. Links between the paper’s previous owners and the Argentine secret services paint a dark picture.
Middle East
Vice Media expands in Asia, Africa and Middle East
From the Financial Times: Expansion underway as Vice Media sign distribution deals across Middle East, Asia and Africa.
North America
CBC/Radio-Canda to extend the reach of its Rio 2016 coverage through social media innovation
From CBC: A new partnership announced today between CBC/Radio-Canada and Twitter Canada will see the first-ever use of Twitter Amplify with Canadian coverage of an Olympic Games.
NPR, stations see progress in collaborative news coverage
From Current: NPR and station leaders say they are making progress in working together more closely on news coverage, despite ongoing staff and budget challenges.
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.
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