PMA Update | 5 July
Public Media Alliance
Supporting our members to build and promote trust in public media worldwide.
?? New podcast: Job cuts in US public media
In February 2023,?NPR?cut 100 jobs, or 10% of its workforce. Fast forward to June 2024, and?PBS?implemented its own raft of job cuts, bookending a difficult period for US public media. Downsizing has been announced at numerous outlets:?GBH?and?WBUR?in Boston,?WNYC?in New York,?Colorado Public Radio?in Denver,?Chicago Public Media, among several others.
So what’s behind it??Media analyst and founder of Lookout Local Ken Doctor?explains the digital disruption that has affected all media companies – both commercial and public. We speak with?Associate Professor Nikki Usher?from the University of San Diego?about the precariousness of philanthropy as a revenue stream.
What impact are the cuts are having? Chief Broadcast Officer at the union SAG-AFTRA, Mary Cavallaro, explains how cuts at one station has a knock-on effect for others. We also explore how the demise of local news outlets – both public and private – contribute to news deserts. Sofia Verza, a research associate at the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom, explains what news deserts are, how they’re created, and how they affect audiences’ access to information.
To conclude, we look at what solutions there might be, from how management can engage with staff, to what mechanisms governments might be able to wield. The President and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Patricia Harrison talks about why they have just given nearly $1 million to Alaska Public Media for a statewide news collaboration, and whether that could be a solution for ?sustainability and viability in the future.
"I worry a lot. Where is the money coming from? ... Something that really makes public media different is the idea of the public being first – public rather than profit. But non-profits still have to have enough revenue to survive, so it's very disheartening to see all of this." - Professor Nikki Usher, University of San Diego on Media Uncovered.
Latest reports ???
PMA offers support to Caribbean broadcasters
During natural disasters, public media play a critical role in providing urgent and accurate information. When lives are at risk, audiences turn to public media for this essential service. The information, disseminated through various broadcasting and digital channels, provides audiences with lifesaving news and guidance.? We know our members are already fulfilling this lifeline service and will continue to do so. If you work for a public media company and ?need support, please get in touch.??
?? Switching off: Young audiences, streaming and public media
The outlook for public media is not encouraging, according to Emerita Professor Andrea Esser and Professor Jeanette Steemers, whose research across four countries shows young audiences are using streaming services much more than public media. Read more in this latest research insight.
???? Coalition to press ahead with Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill
New Zealand’s government is considering changes in the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, a legislation that would force certain tech giants to pay news organisations to share their content on their platforms.
???? KBS to take the initiative in addressing the low birthrate crisis
Korea’s leading public service media, KBS, has taken the initiative to serve as a public forum to address the low birthrate, which has emerged as a major challenge for Korean society.
???? SRG welcomes the rejection of the halving initiative by the Federal Council
Acceptance would have far-reaching effects on the SRG’s journalistic offering, programs and regional anchoring. At the same time, as a countermeasure, the Federal Council has decided to gradually reduce the media tax for households to 300 francs by 2029 and to exempt other companies from the media tax.
More from PMA ??
PMA brings together African partners for responsible AI workshop
Last week, PMA ran a workshop on Responsible AI and Public Media for colleagues from five African public broadcasters.
Led by Develop AI director and founder, Paul McNally, the two-day workshop explored the ethical and moral dilemmas posed by the rollout of AI in public media newsrooms, in both the challenges they pose to core values and the opportunities to enhance them.
The course ended in the drafting of a living document for participants to use to navigate the development of AI guidelines within their organisations, and how they can best use AI while maintaining the trust of their audiences.
领英推荐
A huge thank you to Paul McNally, our participants, and our hosts at SABC.
Find out more about the workshop >>
?? Last chance before RDA tickets increase!
PMA is once again partnering with Radiodays Asia in Kuala Lumpur. Tickets are currently 250 USD per person but will increase up to 300 USD on 8 July so book now to avoid paying a higher rate!
Staff at PMA member organisations are also entitled to a 10% discount on any ticket prices.
PSM Headlines???
CANADA: “Star Wars (Anangong Miigaading), A New Hope”: An alliance to revitalize the Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) language set to make its premiere August 8, 2024 (Press release)
APTN: The Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) version of Star Wars: A New Hope makes its debut August 8, 2024 at Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg.
CHILE: Chilean government wants to strengthen the state channel TVN and create the first public radio (Spanish)
Observacom: The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, announced that he will send proposals to Congress to strengthen the budget of National Television (TVN) to modernize the state channel and to create a public radio station.
GERMANY: Majority of the population sees important educational function for ZDF (Press release - German)
ZDF: For the majority of the population (80.6 percent), it is (very) important that ZDF contributes to the education of the population.
Global Voices: In the Republic of Guinea, the media continues to bear the heavy cost of freedom restrictions since the last coup d'état on September 5, 2021.
RSF: Four years after the enactment of a draconian national security law – a turning point in the decline of press freedom in Hong Kong – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) takes a closer look at the plight of exiled journalists and calls for greater support for their diaspora-led media.
ABC: Rural, regional and provincial journalists know all about going the extra mile for a great story, but 300 miles in a bus and many more on foot?
RTé: Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that if the Government chooses a new licence fee model to fund RTé, the price of the licence could fall depending on the method of collection.
Latam Journalism Review: Three days before her resounding victory in Mexico's presidential elections on June 2, Claudia Sheinbaum made an important commitment to the safety of journalists in the country.
Stuff: Whakaata Māori has announced it is facing a $9.5 million funding decrease over the next few years and will undertake a review into its operations.
SWITZERLAND: SRG switches off FM at the end of the year (Press release - German)
SRG SSR: Anyone who listens to news, music, weather forecasts or traffic reports on the radio today does so largely via the digital radio broadcasting technology DAB+ or via the Internet (IP).
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