PSM Weekly | 26 April - 3 May 2023
Public Media Alliance
Supporting our members to build and promote trust in public media worldwide.
Top Story ??
?? Press freedom is in peril. So too are public service media.
On the 30th edition of World Press Freedom Day, it’s never been more important to recognise how public service media promotes freedom of information and expression.
30 years ago, World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) was launched to remind governments of the importance of freedom of expression and a free and plural media in underpinning democracy, and their duty to protect it.?
But this year’s celebration is a particularly solemn one. According to RSF’s?2023 World Press Freedom Index, there has been an unprecedented slide in global media freedom. More countries are now listed in the index’s worst category than ever before.?
Within this declining space for free media are independent public service media (PSM); organisations bound by a set of values that oblige accountability to the public alone, to provide accurate and trusted news and information.
These organisations require a particular set of supporting conditions to operate effectively, and are extremely vulnerable to the threats listed in this year’s report, such as propaganda, AI, disinformation – in autocratic as well as democratic countries. This makes it more critical than ever that we recognise, advocate, and support the vital role that public media play in fostering free expression.
???? Cilla Benk?: We must all be guardians of freedom of the press
Having free access to information and allowing all voices to be heard – or not. That’s what freedom of speech and freedom of the press are ultimately about,?writes Cilla Benk?, the Director-General of Swedish Radio.?And that is why we must all cherish and defend free journalism, particularly in uncertain times when it increasingly comes under fire.
?? #WPFD: What we're reading...
A selection of articles, features and reports we're reading this World Press Freedom Day?
RSF:?The 21st edition of the World Press Freedom Index, compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), sheds light on major and often radical changes linked to political, social and technological upheavals.
Rappler.com:?On Wednesday, May 3, Maria Ressa sits down with Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Chris Wylie for a talk that’s centered around what has become the most talked about tech in 2023, artificial intelligence, spurred by the release of AI chatbot ChatGPT on November 30, 2022.
The Gleaner:?On December 17, 1986, journalist Guillermo Cano Isaza was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper, El Espectador, in my home country of Colombia. He was targeted because of the news stories he was pursuing as a journalist.
IFJ:?As international organisations and media prepare to celebrate the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says press freedom has taken another step backwards and freedom of expression is not the driver for other human rights that it should be.
VOA:?According to this year’s World Press Freedom rankings, the environment for journalism is bad in seven out of 10 countries worldwide. The yearly rankings published by Reporters Without Borders evaluates 180 countries.?
This week PMA attended meetings at the United Nations HQ in New York as part of our role on the?Media Freedom Coalition’s Consultative Network (MFC-CN). Here we engaged in a review of the MFC’s activities and looked ahead to how best this unique group of states and civil society organisations can work towards supporting and protecting media freedom.
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More to follow.
PMA Board member, Odette Campbell, passes away
It is with deep regret and sadness that the Public Media Alliance advises of the death of Mrs. Odette Campbell, our Vice President and Managing Director of the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN), in the Caribbean.
Odette, 53, died on Monday evening while receiving treatment at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. PMA Board Member Gary Allen who has been in touch with her husband and children, has expressed sympathies on behalf of the PMA and offered the PMA family’s support at this very difficult time for them.
“Odette was a passionate member of the PMA Board, with a clear vision in support of public interest media. I am privileged to have worked alongside her, and she will be sorely missed as both a colleague and a friend to all at PMA.” – Kristian Porter, PMA CEO.
Latest reports ???
???? BBC World Service launches Sudan radio
The programme, which will be broadcast live in London with input from teams in Amman and Cairo, will air on?short wave?in Sudan and be available on radio, online and across social media
???? SABC Board finally appointed
South Africa’s President has finally appointed 12 people to the new board of the SABC,?six monthsafter the old board disbanded.?The appointment is long overdue but welcome.?
?? Twitter ditches all labels
The removal?of contentious and in some cases, inaccurate labels applied to independent public broadcasters included those applied to?state-controlled broadcasters.
More from PMA ??
Ofcom becomes an Affiliate of PMA
The Public Media Alliance offers a warm welcome to?Ofcom, our newest Affiliate.??
Ofcom is the UK’s independent communications regulator, with a focus on TV, radio and video on demand sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services, and the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.?
BBC: Information for broadcasters about the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
To help media outlets around the world cover the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla and celebrations throughout the weekend the BBC will provide daily news edits from Saturday 6th to Monday 8th May 2023.
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