PSM Weekly: 18 - 24 January 2023
Public Media Alliance
Supporting our members to build and promote trust in public media worldwide.
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???? Maria Ressa & Rappler acquitted of four charges
The Public Media Alliance welcomes the decision of the Philippines Court of Tax Appeals to acquit Maria Ressa and?Rappler?of four counts of tax evasion.
“These cases are where capital markets, rule of law, [and] where press freedom meet so this acquittal is not just for Rappler, it’s for every Filipino who has ever been unjustly accused,” Ms. Ressa?said. “Today, facts win, truth wins, justice wins.”
The charges were brought forward by the Philippines government under the previous president, Rodrigo Duterte. They were part of a concerted effort to attack both Ms. Ressa and Rappler with lawsuits, designed to threaten and censor the independent news outlet. Since 2018, a total of 23 cases have been brought against both of them.
“While PMA welcomes the acquittal, we remain deeply concerned by the outstanding charges, conviction, and their implications for an already diminished media freedom landscape. Ending these would be an opportunity for the new Philippines government to demonstrate its commitment to a free and independent media ecosystem.” –?Kristian Porter, CEO of the Public Media Alliance.
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???? SABC to launch new indigenous-language news channel
An indigenous language news channel is to be established to cater to the more than ten million South Africans who depend on SABC channels for news in their own language every day, said SABC’s Group Executive for News and Current Affairs, Moshoeshoe Monare.
To improve their news provision for all South Africans, SABC plans to launch a brand-new news channel, called ‘Ekaya’, that will showcase all indigenous news and current affairs shows in a single channel across multiple platforms. ‘Ekaya’ – meaning ‘at home’ – will cater for ten of South Africa’s official indigenous languages, including Afrikaans, isiZulu and IsiXhosa, which are widely spoken in South Africa, and will be available on DTT, the broadcaster’s new streaming platform,?SABC Plus?as well as current free to air channels.
“As a public broadcaster, we’ve got this responsibility both morally and constitutionally to make sure that we reflect the diversity and plurality of the South African society and give that content in all our 11 languages, and this is the excitement of this channel” –?Moshoeshoe Monare
SABC expects to launch ‘Ekaya’ in April, which is particularly apt amid the United Nation’s?Decade of Indigenous Languages?(2022-2032), an initiative aimed at preserving and promoting indigenous peoples’ languages, while mainstreaming linguistic diversity.
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???? Trust, Democracy and Public Service Media
“Trust seems to be in short supply”, said the President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, Catherine Tait, in a speech at the Simon Fraser University of Vancouver. Public media organisations rely and thrive on trust, but studies showed trust in media overall is waning.
???? Israel: Kan threatened with sale
There are ominous signals for the future of the country’s independent public broadcaster, Kan, as Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government?threatens it with privatisation.There were signs even before the government was sworn in.
???? PBS lines up climate programmes
At the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger announced the launch of an?unprecedented environmental and climate programming initiative?that explores impacts on the country and planet.
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