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Like many media outlets, radio broadcasters have used social media as a tool to build audience engagement. This noble experiment is waning. Broadcasters are giving it a pause if not shutting it down completely.
Canadian public broadcaster CBC/Radio Canada is closing comments to Facebook pages linked to CBC News. The pause will last four weeks. Comments remain “welcome” on the CBCNews website.
CBC News executive director Brodie Fenlon cited mental health issues, in a statement (June 15). “There is ample evidence the mental health of many Canadians is fragile and in need of attention after 16 months of pandemic lockdowns, school closures and economic uncertainty. Compounding the stress and anxiety of journalists is the vitriol and harassment many of them face on social media platforms and, increasingly, in the field.” (See more about social media here)
He continued: “If public discourse is a litmus test of the health of a society, the conversation on social media suggests we have a problem. It's one thing for our journalists to deal with toxicity on these platforms. It's another for our audience members who try to engage with and discuss our journalism to encounter it on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, where they are almost guaranteed to be confronted by hate, racism and abuse.“ (See more about hate speech here)
Other news outlets are coming to the same conclusion. The hesitation, so far, has been from marketing departments deeply immersed in the theory that social media engagement is the key to success. Indeed, several studies show that such engagement does extend time spent with the news outlet. The next question, though, is the degree to which the media outlet wants the abusing attention. “It takes a mental toll on our staff,” concluded Mr Fenlon, “who must wade into the muck in an effort to keep the conversation healthy for others.”
Reporters for independent Russian television channel TV Dozhd have been disinvited from the presidential press pool, reported news portal Meduza (June 14). The reason, as expected, was the channel’s coverage of opposition politician Alexey Navalny and related public rallies of support. “Yes, unfortunately it’s connected,” confirmed presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. “In those days the channel supported illegal actions.” Dozhd TV reporters have not attended Mr. Peskov’s regular press conferences since May 14.
Alternatively known as TV Rain, the channel’s presence has diminished considerably since being removed from cable systems in 2015 to languish as a YouTube channel. Except, Dozhd TV has not disappeared. After considerable harassment, including tax investigations, the channel has measurable support. (See more about media in the Russian Federation here)
Speaking up in favor of Dozhd TV reporters being included in the press pool, was Ekho Moskvy chief editor, part-owner and Russian media eminence gris Alexey Venediktov. The expulsion, he said on a Telegram channel, “causes bewilderment and indignation,” quoted by news portal Zaks (June 14). Ekho Moskvy is a Russian-language news/talk radio channel based in Moscow and widely distributed across Russia and other Russian-speaking regions. It is majority owned by Gazprom Media (66.6%) and a staff holding company (33.4%) directed by Mr. Venediktov.
“Coverage of certain events is not supportive or condemnation, but the professional responsibility of journalists before society,” noted Mr. Venediktov, diplomatically as usual. “We believe that the erroneous decision to remove our colleagues should be reconsidered.” Independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta also noted the expulsion of Dozhd TV from presidential press conferences.
UK television broadcaster Channel 4 may well be closer to a private owner than ever. Politicians have been pitching a sell-off for more then two decades. The fever has been rising in recent months, leading some to opine it is now inevitable.
Channel 4 was established in 1982 as a free-to-air public service TV channel. It is licensed by a public corporation within the UK Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Revenue streams are quite commercial; ad sales, sponsorships and program sales. The mission is to be distinctive, targeting young people. The current right-wing Conservative government is the most recent in a series of UK governments trying to figure out how to cash out. (See more about UK television here)
Talks have begun with investment banks, reported The Times (June 1), about facilitating a share listing or outright sale. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has “an open mind on the structure of the disposal.” The Times is published by News UK, subsidiary of News Corporation, principally controlled by the Murdoch family. News UK was given approval last December to fire up a TV channel then dropped the idea in April as “not commercially viable.”
Minister Dowden said Channel 4 could be privatized within weeks, reported The Sun (May 13), then rolled that out to “within three years,” reported iNews (May 14). The Sun is also published by News UK. The Channel 4 operating license expires in 2024.
Meanwhile television channel GB News took to the digital space this past weekend (June 13). With a staff of mainly B-team hosts ready to become celebrities, its focus is on “opinion” of the right-wing variety. The channel’s production has been described as a blend of Fox News, the US right-wing channel principally owned by the Murdoch family, and Sputnik, the Russian state TV channel. Marque programs include “Wokewatch” and “Free Speech Nation.” Discovery Inc is an investor in GB News along with Dubai-based private investment house Legatum and UK hedge fund guy Paul Marshall.
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