Global Task Force for public media warns threats to media are undermining democracy

PUBLIC FUNDING FOR and independence of public broadcasters around the world is under increasing threat, according to the Global Task Force for public media. The task force, which is chaired by CBC/Radio-Canada president and CEO Catherine Tait and serves the purpose of promoting and defending public media values, met recently for its first in-person meeting in Tokyo ahead of the annual conference of Public Broadcasters International (PBI). “Public broadcasters’ public funding, operational and editorial independence, and media freedom and safety are all under increasing threat in too many parts of the world — and the consequences are damaging democracy,” reads...