How does Facebook deal with hate speech in the Asia-Pacific, given the region’s myriad cultures and languages? A recent study by researchers at the University of Sydney examines the regulation of hate speech on Facebook by looking at the experience of LGBTQ+ groups across 5 countries - Australia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines. We discuss the findings with lead author Dr. Aim Sinpeng. Read the full report here.

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The 2021 Digital News Report compiled by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism revealed that trust in the media increased by 6% globally to 44%, as audiences sought credible, authoritative news sources during the pandemic. Malaysia saw a similar uptick in trust in media, but with media freedoms on the decline under Perikatan Nasional, Professor Zaharom Nain of University Nottingham Malaysia believes the trend is unsustainable. We discuss the findings of the report in the Malaysian context, and other trends in media consumption over the past year.

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The healthcare system in the Klang Valley is under tremendous strain as Covid-19 cases continue to spike. How transparent has the government been in communicating the situation to Malaysians? We discuss the availability of Covid-19 data and the indicators we should be monitoring with CodeBlue Editor-in-Chief Boo Su-Lyn.

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The grassroots-led white flag movement is creating waves over social media, with communities offering help in kind to people in distress during the pandemic. However the politicization of the movement by figures on both sides of the divide has sparked public backlash. We discuss the impact of social media movements and efforts to lead political change from the ground up with strategic communications consultant and commentator Nathaniel Tan. He also heads Projek Wawasan Rakyat (POWR) and is part of Projek #BangsaMalaysia.

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The grassroots-led white flag movement is creating waves over social media, with communities offering help in kind to people in distress during the pandemic. However the politicization of the movement by figures on both sides of the divide has sparked public backlash. We discuss the impact of social media movements and efforts to lead political change from the ground up with strategic communications consultant and commentator Nathaniel Tan. He also heads Projek Wawasan Rakyat (POWR) and is part of Projek Bangsa Malaysia.

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Brazil’s Covid-19 death toll surpassed 500,000 deaths last week, a grim reminder that the pandemic continues to rage more than a year and a half after its outbreak. President Jair Bolsonaro is notorious for making light of the pandemic and prioritizing the economy over healthcare measures. But as case numbers continue to rise with no relief in sight, could this bring an end to his political dominance? We discuss the situation in Brazil and the South American region with writer Mac Margolis.

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There has been a spate of media coverage and social media posts on migrant and refugee issues, that have been criticized by rights groups as biased, one-sided, and inaccurate. What is the role of the media in moderating and amplifying these issues, and how can Malaysian media better represent the nuances and perspectives of migrants? We discuss this with representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Malaysia.

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The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Content Forum, also known as the Content Forum, is embarking on a revamp exercise of the nearly two-decades-old Content Code set up in 2004. What are the challenges of content regulation in an age where access to information online is unfettered and content creation reigns supreme? We discuss the nuts and bolts of the self-regulatory model in Malaysia as well as the policy gaps that need to be filled with newly appointed Executive Director Mediha Mahmood.

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The BBC has come under fire for its 1995 Panorama interview with the late Princess Diana, after an independent inquiry by Lord Dyson found that journalist Martin Bashir used deceptive means to secure the interview. The scathing report comes at a time when future public funding for the BBC is being negotiated, amid allegations of perceived right-wing bias within the institution. We discuss the implications of the scandal and the media environment for the public broadcaster with Professeor Suzanne Franks of City, University of London.

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Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), the largest print media publisher on the island-state, announced that it would hive-off its media segment into a non-profit company before the end of the year. How will this shake-up impact the media environment in Singapore? We discuss the implications with media expert and academic Cherian George.

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