Media Uncovered

RTÉ, Ireland's national public broadcaster, has been at the centre of a national drama for the past eighteen months. It all started after an undisclosed payments scandal broke out involving one of its star presenters. Further revelations regarding lavish spending and a doomed and costly musical, only ramped up the pressure on the organisation.

The crisis saw trust in the broadcaster plummet and a subsequent financial headache, as audiences en masse refused to pay their licence fee. The Director General at the time, Dee Forbes, resigned. 

Yet out of this, RTÉ has emerged with a new five year strategy, a new leadership team headed by new Director General, Kevin Bakhurst, and a more secure funding arrangement for at least the next three years. How has this happened?

In this episode, we speak to Kevin Bakhurst about this turnaround, and how RTÉ are still striving to restore trust in the organisation, from both audiences and staff. 

Presenter: Harry Lock. Producer: Jamie Tahana. Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson & Tom Brazier.

In the next few weeks, we'll be releasing bonus episodes recorded live from Ottawa at the PBI conference. Subscribe so you don't miss out!

In this special episode of Media Uncovered, we're in Taiwan, looking at how public media are adopting and embracing Artificial Intelligence.

The episode spotlights seven different projects either being worked on; trialled and tested; or in use already. The projects cover four themes related to AI: news & journalism; children's content; language services; and organisation. 

We also consider the current relationship between public media and Artificial Intelligence, with Develop AI founder and AI expert, Paul McNally. 

The episode was recorded at the PTS Symposium on Public Media & AI, held in Taipei in early September. For more information, click on this link: https://www.pts.org.tw/2024pts_symposium/. In the podcast, we hear from PTS themselves as to why they decided to hold this event. 

For more information on each of these projects: 

• France Télévisions – Nous, jeunesse(s) d’Iran: https://larevuedesmedias.ina.fr/urgence-france-televisions-inventer-le-floutage-de-demain

Presenter: Harry Lock. Producers: Charlotte Pion & Jamie Tahana. Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson, and Tom Brazier.

Speakers: Paul McNally (Develop AI), Dennis Chen (PTS), Eric Scherer (France Télévisions), David Corral (RTVE), Abby Jenkins (PBS), Simon Staffans (independent producer), Rhonwyn Newson (RNZ), Tsubasa Uchida (NHK), Ruth Kühn (DW). 

Additional audio supplied by: Eric Scherer / France Télévisions; David Corral / RTVE; Simon Staffans / SVT.

Why are so many American public media networks downsizing, and laying off staff?

For this episode, we head to the US. In February 2023, NPR announced it was laying off 10-percent of its workforce – at least 100 people – facing a shortfall of $30 million. And in June 2024, it was announced that PBS would be making 24 people redundant. In the intervening months between those two announcements, there has been a litany of layoffs from regional networks, from GBH in Boston to Colorado Public Radio in Denver.

What's causing these layoffs? And what impact will they have on the staff, on the content, and on the audiences? 

Presenter: Harry Lock. Correspondents: Jamie Tahana and Charlotte Pion. Guests: Mary Cavallaro (SAG-AFTRA), Ken Doctor (Lookout Local), Patricia Harrison (CPB), Professor Nikki Usher (University of San Diego), Sofia Verza (Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom). Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson, Tom Brazier. 

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/newsletters/

On 1 March, Argentina's new president, Javier Milei, stood up in Congress and announced the closure of Télam, the country's national news agency. Come Monday morning, Télam's headquarters were bordered up and guarded by police. No workers were allowed in.

So why is Argentina's public media sector being targeted? What has led to the closure of the news agency putting 700 jobs at risk, as well as further threats to privatise the national TV and radio broadcasters as well? 

In this episode, we explore the history of the public media sector across Latin American, and specifically in Argentina, as we analyse what has brought us to this moment now. And we examine what impact might the closure of public media mean for the country's broader news ecosystem. 

Presenter: Harry Lock. Guests: Dr Rodrigo Gomez (Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Cuajimalpa), Tomás Eliaschev, (Télam & SiPreBA), Natali Schejtman (University of Torcuato Di Tella).

Music: Lucas Thompson, Rachel Still & Tom Brazier. SFX: Somos Télam & Pixabay. 

To celebrate World Radio Day 2024, our podcast examines this year's theme: "Radio: A century informing, educating and entertaining". 

While radio has changed perhaps beyond all recognition since its inception, the three fundamental pillars of radio – and particularly public radio – remain as relevant and necessary today as ever. To explore this, we take a look at each pillar one by one, and speak to a different radio station about each one. 

Tackling entertainment, we speak with ABC's youth radio station, Triple J, on how they continue to reach and entertain young audiences. We travel to northern Norway to speak to NRK Sápmi, on how their content seeks to educate audiences – new and existing. And we finish in Barbados, speaking to Starcom Network Inc, on how their portfolio of radio stations inform audiences in the modern, digital age.

We also talked to three leaders of public radio associations about the future of radio networks, the challenges they face, and the opportunities available in different regions of the world.  

Presenter: Harry Lock. Producer: Jamie Tahana. Guests: Kristian Porter (PMA), Edita Kudláčová (EBU), Sonia Gill (CBU), Anthony Greene (Stardom Network Inc), Johan Ailo Kalstad (NRK Sápmi), and Lachlan Macara (ABC). 

Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson, Tom Brazier. 

More World Radio Day content:

https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/radio-the-trusted-guide-in-a-changing-world/

https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/world-radio-days-a-century-of-informing-educating-entertaining/

With CBC/Radio-Canada publishing their first ever National Indigenous Strategy, we take a look at public media's role in serving, reflecting and representing Indigenous Peoples – both on and off screen. 

We examine how public media historically have treated, reported on, and engaged with Indigenous communities. We look at current efforts by broadcasters including NITV, RNZ and NRK Sápmi to reach and connect with Indigenous audiences in meaningful and engaging ways. 

And we explore CBC/Radio-Canada's new strategy – what difference will it actually make? And will audiences notice a difference?

Presenter: Harry Lock. Producer: Jamie Tahana. Guests: Johan Ailo Kalstad (NRK Sápmi), Tanya Denning-Orman (SBS / NITV), Robert Doane (CBC/Radio-Canada), Mirta Lourenco (UNESCO), Catherine Tait (CBC/Radio-Canada). Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson, Tom Brazier. 

Find out more about CBC/Radio-Canada's strategy > https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/cbc-radio-canada-launches-first-ever-national-indigenous-strategy-and-establishes-new-indigenous-office/. 

With thanks to: NRK, SBS, RNZ, CBC/Radio-Canada for additional materials. 

What has the impact of the digital age been on public service media? What challenges has it thrown up? How have public media adapted? What opportunities does increasing digital connectivity throw up for public media entities? 

In this one-on-one conversation with the Senior Research Associate at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Nic Newman, we explore how the digital age gives public media access to young audiences, how it has presented financial challenges, and how it has impacted the entire media ecosystem. 

Presenter: Harry Lock. Guests: Nic Newman (Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism)

Music: Lucas Thompson, Rachel Still. 

Links: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism Digital News Report 2023: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2023

PMA Global Grants 2024: https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/resources/grants-opportunities/pma-global-grant/.

Speaking to three public broadcasters from three continents, we explore how public service media provide language services, why they're so vital, and what difference they make, from the provision of critical lifesaving information, to the upholding of Indigenous cultures and languages. But language services face challenges – particularly when it comes to reaching the audiences, and getting the funding to provide the quality of service you need. 

Presenter: Harry Lock. Guests: Stanley Similo (NBC); Vicky Eluq (RTM); Bakel Walden (SRG SSR).  Reporter: Desilon Daniels (PMA). Special thanks to Menesia Muinjo and Bianca Gowases of NBC for the vox pops. 

Music: Lucas Thompson, Rachel Still and Tom Brazier. 

Over the past couple of episodes, we’ve been examining the relationship between public media and social media. In this episode – the final episode of this mini series – we’re asking how can we regulate social media? How can we ensure a more balanced media ecosystem, where media organisations are financially viable, publicly visible and accessible, and where mis- and disinformation is controlled?

Presenter: Harry Lock. Guests: Pascal Albrechtskirchinger (ZDF), Helen Jay (University of Westminster), Courtney C. Radsch, David Sutton (ABC). Reporter: Desilon Daniels (PMA). 

Music: Lucas Thompson, Rachel Still and Tom Brazier. 

Special effects: Studio Kolomna, Microsammy and pixabay.