Media Uncovered

34. How can newsrooms support journalists' mental health?

Journalists are confronted with many threats, from being exposed to hostile environments – on the field or online – or through the continuous pressures that their job can entail. And these threats have a cost. And while the physical safety of journalists has been a major focus in the profession in the last 30 years, the impact the job can have on journalists' mental wellbeing has been overlooked.
But is this now changing? 
This episode explores the different threats to journalists’ mental wellbeing and dives into the question of how newsroom leaders and news managers are addressing it in their organisations, and what forms of support have been put in place in the last few years.
This episode comes off the back of the MediaStrong symposium for journalists' mental wellbeing, an initiative created by Leona O’Neill, which was co-curated by the Public Media Alliance and Safely Held Spaces. During this event, the MediaStrong Newsroom Wellbeing Charter was launched. Find out more here: https://sites.google.com/mediastrong.uk/mediastrong/sign-our-charter
Guests: Aya Ibrahim from Deutsche Welle, Dave Seglins from CBC/Radio-Canada, Fran Unsworth from the International News Safety Institute and the founder of MediaStrong, Leona O’Neill. Presenter: Charlotte Pion. Music: Tom Brazier, Lucas Thompson & Rachel Still. 

33. How do public media cover elections in 2025?

In early 2025, two major elections took place which bore a striking resemblance in their outcomes... the Canadian and Australian elections both saw wins for the left-leaning incumbents while both leaders of the opposition lost their seats. But what did these elections have in store for the two national public media organisations, tasked with covering these elections, and a responsibility to foster an informed citizenry when it comes to casting their vote? 
In this episode, we host a conversation with the two men tasked with leading the newsrooms for both the ABC and CBC. We examine the challenges when it comes to covering an election in 2025: from politicians unwilling to engage with public media to an audience with diverse needs and habits when it comes to getting news. We explore what new formats are being experimented with, such as explainers, watch-along broadcasts, and a nationwide radio marathon broadcast. And we ask: will there always be a future for the election night show? 
For more on ABC and CBC/Radio-Canada's coverage: https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/public-media-covering-elections/
Guests: Justin Stevens, Director, News, ABC & Brodie Fenlon, General Manager & Editor-in-Chief, CBC News. Presenter: Harry Lock. Music: Tom Brazier. 

32. What are the global media strategies of authoritarian states?

In the last episode, we looked at the continuing need for public service media that is international and independent, providing fact-based news and information to audiences around the globe. And one major challenge came through: the competition from the international media organisations of authoritarian states, namely Russia and China. 
In this episode, we hone in on China's media strategy overseas. We hear from an academic who has studied China's media strategy in the Pacific, where CCTV and China Radio International are butting up against ABC International and RNZ Pacific, while Chinese embassies are also investing heavily in local media & journalists. We consider what benefits the Chinese state is looking to get from these moves, in the Pacific, and elsewhere. And we also speak to both ABC International and RNZ Pacific about what impact it's having on them. 
Presenter: Harry Lock. Guests: Dr Denghua Zhang (ANU), Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor (RNZ Pacific), Claire Gorman (ABC International), Beverly Ochieng (Control Risks). Music: Tom Brazier, Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson.

31. Is there still a need for international public service media?

We speak to the two leaders of two major international public broadcasters, the BBC World Service and SwissInfo, about why they believe international public media is needed now more than ever.
Undoubtedly, it's a difficult time to be an independent international public service media entity. Funding is precarious, the rise of big tech and how it fuels mis- and disinformation means it's a harder job, and the rise of China's and Russia's state media machines means there's now more competition. We discuss the challenges, and explore ways in which international public media can maintain its relevance in the world. 
We also unpick with an academic and author of a book about Trump and VOA, what's been happening to USAGM, and the wider impact this might have on the global information landscape. 
Presenter: Harry Lock.
Guests: Larissa Bieler (SwissInfo), Jonathan Munro (BBC World Service), & Martin Scott (University of East Anglia). 
Music: Rachel Still & Lucas Thompson

30. How are public broadcasters working with content creators?

Content creators are only becoming increasingly influential, and are able to access young audiences – an audience which public media traditionally finds very difficult to reach. So is there an opportunity for public media to work with content creators in mutually beneficial exchanges?
In this episode, we look at two programmes being run by broadcasters where they are collaborating with content creators: the ABC and the BBC. And we look from both sides – the side of the public broadcaster, and the side of the content creator, to understand the benefits that such programmes could provide. We also speak to UNESCO about how they've been surveying content creators to find out their competencies. And with such programmes already underway, we discuss with one academic why public media needs to be particularly cautious about collaborating with news influencers.
LINKS: 
ABC Creator Program
Adwoa and Solomon Instagram account
BBC Creator Lab
UNESCO survey of content creators
UNESCO content creators online training programme
Presenter: Harry Lock. Producer: Jamie Tahana. Guests: Adeline Hulin (UNESCO), Adwoa and Solomon (Adeche), Daniel Ahern (ABC), Dr Kelly Fincham (University of Galway). Special thanks: Kristian Porter (PMA). Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson, Tom Brazier. 

29. What does it take to lead a public broadcaster?

For our final episode of 2024, and the final in our short bonus series of conversations recorder at the PBI conference in Ottawa, we sit down with two public media CEOs, to discuss what it's like, running a public media organisation. 
Both Catherine Tait, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada, and Hanna Stjärne, CEO of Swedish Television, will be leaving their positions at the end of this year. In this podcast, they consider their achievements and any regrets. As two women, they also talk about the harassment, attacks and threats they have faced during their time. Plus, they talk about the future of public media in their respective countries, the wider challenges facing the industry and journalism. 
Presenter: Harry Lock. Producer: Jamie Tahana. Guests: Catherine Tait (CBC/Radio-Canada), Hanna Stjärne (SVT). Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson, & Tom Brazier. 

28. What is the Public Spaces Incubator?

In this second bonus episode, featuring a conversation recorded in Ottawa in October at the Public Broadcasters International conference, we explore the Public Spaces Incubator.
The Incubator was originally founded as a partnership between four public broadcasters – CBC/Radio-Canada, RTBF, SRG SSR and ZDF – and one tech company, called New_Public. It released its first prototypes earlier this year, and has now welcomed ABC and ARD onboard as well.
How did the Incubator start? What problems is it trying to solve? And when co-productions of this nature are so hard to get off the ground, what's the secret behind the success of the Incubator?
Presenter: Harry Lock. Producer: Jamie Tahana. Guests: Catherine Tait, CBC/Radio-Canada & Eli Pariser, New_Public. Music: Lucas Thompson, Rachel Still & Tom Brazier. 
For more information on the Public Spaces Incubator: https://newpublic.org/psi.

27. How can Indigenous stories be amplified in public media?

In the first of a series of interviews recorded on the sidelines of the Public Broadcasting International Conference 2024, this episode of Media Uncovered focusses on Indigenous Peoples and public broadcasting.
For the first at the annual conference, October’s PBI, held in the Canadian capital Ottawa, saw a full day devoted to Indigenous voices in the media. Attendees from around the world discussed Indigenous stories, language revitalisation efforts, and questions of cultural identity and authenticity, as well as how national media grapple with their relationships with Indigenous communities. 
In this episode, recorded at the end of that special day, Jamie Tahana sat down with Robert Doane, the director of the National Indigenous Office at CBC/Radio-Canada, and Kerry Swanson, the chief executive of Canada’s National Indigenous Screen Office. 
Read our report on how public media are reaching and reflecting Indigenous Peoples: https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/how-public-service-media-are-reaching-and-reflecting-indigenous-audiences/
Find out more about the UNESCO project: https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/?s=Indigenous
Presenter: Jamie Tahana. Guests: Robert Doane (CBC/Radio-Canada) & Kerry Swanson (ISO). Music: Rachel Still, Lucas Thompson & Tom Brazier. 

26. How is RTÉ restoring trust?

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!

25. How are public media using Artificial Intelligence?

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
RTVE – AI election software: https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20230528/inteligencia-artificial-noticias-elecciones-28-mayo-poblaciones-menos-1000-habitantes/2446742.shtml
PBS – Lyla in the Loop & Elinor Wonders Why: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenaquino/2024/02/05/inside-how-pbs-kids-series-lyla-in-the-loop-tries-to-make-computer-science-more-accessible-to-all-children/?sh=504f9fa62222.
SVT – A Christmas Miracle: https://omoss.svt.se/arkiv/nyhetsarkiv/2024-01-26-svts-julmiraklet-tavlar-vid-prix-jeunesse.html 
RNZ – LLM partnership: https://www.rnz.co.nz/media/226
NHK – sign-language avatar: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/08/31/summer-paralympics/nhk-tokyo-2020-sign-language/
Deutsche Welle – LLM: https://www.dw.com/en/what-is-deutsche-welles-approach-to-generative-ai/a-66868035 
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.