The AIBs 2025 closing date extended

30 June 2025

The AIBs 2025 closing date extended

The AIB Secretariat has been receiving many calls from broadcasters and production companies around the world seeking an extension to the closing date for this year’s AIBs, the 21st annual competition for journalism and factual productions.

As a result, we have extended the closing date to 14 July to allow more time for entries to be submitted.

“The AIBs are run to showcase and reward the world’s best journalism and factual story telling,” says Clare Fuller, producer of the AIBs. “We recognise that everyone working in media companies around the world are under increasing pressures and ever tighter deadlines, so we know we need to respond to requests from potential entrants. So we are allowing two more weeks for entries to be submitted.”

Full information on all the categories and how to enter is on the AIBs website: www.theaibs.tv. The closing date is now 14 July 2025.

France Médias Monde’s institutional website is now available in English

27 June 2025

France Médias Monde’s institutional website is now available in English

In addition to its French-language version, France Médias Monde has launched an institutional website in English, showcasing the group in all its components and specificities.

The website presents the group’s organisation (governance, locations and global presence, financing, key figures, etc.) and its international public service missions (global information, promotion of the French language, broadcasting in 21 languages, culture and support for talent, education and young audiences, cooperation and training, etc.). It also highlights its CSR commitments.

A large part of France Médias Monde’s institutional website is dedicated to presenting the group’s three media outlets – RFI, France 24, and Monte Carlo Doualiya – as well as its pureplayer offerings, including ENTR and InfoMigrants. Each dedicated page provides information about their editorial programming, languages, modes of reception, audience figures, and the teams that make their success possible. France Médias Monde’s independence, the transparency of its organisation, as well as its ethical framework, are also at the heart of the new institutional website.

Designed to serve as a crossroads to France Médias Monde’s entire digital ecosystem, the new website is linked to the dedicated pages of all three media outlets within the group, as well as to its various other digital platforms (HR site, advertising sales, CFI, Académie France Médias Monde, RFI Instrumental, RFI Musique, public procurement platform, online pressroom, etc.).

In line with France Médias Monde’s commitment to digital sobriety, the institutional website was built with an eco-design approach. An eco mode offers a more restrained browsing experience, while the limited use of colours and the simplicity of functions and content help reduce screen energy consumption.

A SITE DESIGNED FOR ACCESSIBILITY

France Médias Monde is committed to making its corporate website accessible to persons with disabilities. The website has been designed from the beginning with inclusion in mind, to guarantee a fluid, accessible experience for every visitor (easy navigation through a simple arborescence, attention to web accessibility standards). Following an audit carried out last May, which led to a series of technical improvements, France Médias Monde’s corporate website achieved a 94% compliance rate with the criteria of the RGAA (French general guidelines for improving accessibility of websites).

[Source: FMM press release]

BBC announces subscription service for USA

26 June 2025

BBC announces subscription service for USA

BBC Studios and BBC News has launched the first phase of a pay model for BBC.com visitors in the U.S., offering its most loyal users a premium experience and a new way to enjoy even more of the BBC’s acclaimed journalism and storytelling.

In the initial phase of the launch, for less than $1 a week ($49.99/year) or $8.99/month, users who join will get unlimited access to the BBC’s news articles, feature stories and the 24/7 livestream of the BBC News channel. In the coming months as we test and learn from audience consumption, ad-free documentary series and films (including the full BBC Select documentary catalogue), ad-free and early release podcasts, and exclusive newsletters and content will be included in the offer. This pay model launch supports BBC Studios’ ongoing effort to grow international commercial revenue that helps fund the BBC’s journalism and storytelling and delivers greater value for the licence fee.

Following a period of significant investment in technology and journalism, BBC.com relaunched last year and has seen double-digit year-on-year growth. Today, BBC.com reaches 139 million visitors globally, including nearly 60 million in the U.S. alone.

Rebecca Glashow, CEO BBC Studios Global Media & Streaming said: “Over three years ago, we set out on a bold mission: to completely reimagine how we deliver the BBC’s world-class news and factual content to consumers in the U.S.. Our goal? To serve our audiences better than ever before—and unlock new opportunities for growth. Today, the next phase of that vision becomes reality. We’re bringing more of the BBC’s trusted, high-quality content together in one powerful, easy-to-access destination. Over the next few months, as we test and learn more about audience needs and habits, additional long-form factual content will be added to the offer for paying users. This is a major milestone and just the beginning of an exciting new chapter.”

Deborah Turness, CEO, BBC News said: “Through our partnership with BBC Studios we are growing our audiences in North America – providing more people with news they can trust at a time of dramatic global uncertainty.”

BBC.com is employing a dynamic pay model—an intelligent, engagement-based pay model trusted by leading news publishers globally. All users visiting the site from within the U.S. will be assessed based on how they interact with our content, including how much they read and how long they stay.

This approach allows casual readers to explore freely, while offering our most engaged users the opportunity to unlock even more. By opting to pay, readers gain unlimited access to all the site’s content. It’s a premium experience designed to keep visitors informed and connected—while directly supporting the future of independent, fact-based reporting.

Visitors who choose not to pay will still have access to select global breaking news stories, BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service radio livestreams, BBC World Service Languages sites, and a variety of free newsletters and podcasts.

The site will remain ad-supported, providing global brand partners with continued opportunities to connect with the BBC.com audience in impactful and meaningful ways.

The website, which is commercially funded and operates separately from other BBC platforms in the UK, identifies users based on their device’s geolocation, an industry standard practice to ensure compliance with the laws and content rights restrictions in each country. UK Licence Fee payers travelling to the U.S. for holiday or work can access their usual content via the BBC News app, as long as they’ve downloaded the latest versions from the UK app stores before travelling.

There will be no change to the services that people in the UK will receive and have access to. All the content that’s available on BBC.com is also available to UK audiences through the BBC’s various channels and services. There are no current plans to introduce a pay model outside of North America.

About BBC Studios

The main commercial arm of BBC Commercial Ltd, BBC Studios generated revenues in the last year of £1.8 billion and a third consecutive year of profits of over £200 million. Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Media & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services including bbc.com and Britbox International and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. The business made more than 2,800 hours of award-winning British programmes last year for a wide selection of public service and commercial broadcasters and platforms, both in the UK and across the globe. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, and includes world-famous brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who.

France 24 expands in Southern Africa on NBC Plus

26 June 2025

France 24 expands in Southern Africa on NBC Plus

France 24’s English-language channel is now available for streaming on nbc Plus, the digital platform developed by Namibia’s national broadcaster, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). This strategic partnership marks a significant step in France 24’s efforts to strengthen its presence in Southern Africa by integrating into a rapidly expanding digital ecosystem.

Launched in 2018, nbc Plus offers a hybrid service that combines live television channels with video-on-demand content (VOD), currently available on Android devices. The platform’s reach extends well beyond Namibia, with a growing audience amongst the Namibian diaspora in the UK, the US, Canada, and Germany.

The arrival of France 24 in English enhances nbc Plus’ international content offering, whilst aligning with the platform’s ambitions for continued growth. nbc Plus strives to deliver an optimised viewing experience, featuring a redesigned interface, high-definition streaming, intuitive navigation, and an expanding catalogue of both local and international programming.

France 24 is already broadcast to 574.1 million households globally, including 69.8 million in Africa (2024 average).

Finland becomes co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition

23 June 2025

Finland becomes co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition

Finland has been announced as the new co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, a global partnership of 51 countries working together to promote press freedom at home and abroad.

Finland begins its two-year term as co-chair alongside Germany, which became co-chair in January 2024.

Finland succeeds Estonia, which has been MFC co-chair since July 2023. Finland will officially take over the co-chair role on 1^st July 2025.

Promoting freedom of the press is a priority for the Finnish Government, which ranks 5^th on Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index. In Finland’s view, media freedom is a key pillar of a democratic society and has an important role in contributing to comprehensive security. Issues related to media freedom are also high on the agenda of Finland’s Chairpersonship of the OSCE in 2025.

Elina Valtonen, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, formally accepted the co-chairship from her Estonian counterpart, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 23^rd June 2025.

Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany Johann Wadephul was also present for the handover.

Minister Valtonen said: “Our co-chairmanship will focus on protecting journalists and improving media literacy and on broader issues related to global freedom of speech. It is a pleasure to work with Germany on these important themes.”

Minister Tsahkna said: “It has been a great honour for Estonia to co-chair the Media Freedom Coalition from July 2023 until June 2025. I wish to sincerely thank the Netherlands and Germany for the excellent cooperation during our joint chairmanships. The need to protect media freedom has never been more urgent, and we have been fighting globally for free and independent media both online and offline. Together with MFC member States and other important stakeholders, we have stood up for journalists at risk and defended the right to free and independent media globally. I warmly welcome Finland, a country with a strong record on media freedom, as a new co-chair of the Coalition. I am confident they will continue this vital work with determination and vision.”

Minister Wadephul said: “Protecting media freedom is protecting freedom itself. Without a free press, societies cannot be free. Thank you very much, Estonia, for being an outstanding partner and Co-Chair in the global fight for media freedom. Today more than ever, we need independent and courageous journalists that can report the facts to the world unimpededly and that can speak truth to power relentlessly. That is why we are very much looking forward to spearheading the work of the Media Freedom Coalition together with incoming Co-Chair and esteemed partner Finland.”

The Media Freedom Coalition was established in 2019 by co-founders the UK and Canada, and has since grown to 51 member countries from six continents. Member countries work together on a range of activities to protect media freedom around the world, such as diplomacy to support journalists at risk, the provision of emergency visas to journalists fleeing their country, and reforming laws to better protect journalists and media workers.

The Coalition’s latest annual report highlighted that the MFC has acted on 22 cases of journalists at risk during 2024, while embassies of MFC members had spoken out on a further 15 cases. The report also highlighted 123 actions by MFC member embassies around the world, such as visiting imprisoned journalists, providing funding, and organising events.

To do its work, the Coalition works closely with a group of the world’s leading press freedom and media support organisations (the Consultative Network – the AIB is a member of the CN), a group of leading lawyers and judges from around the world (the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom), and international organisations including UNESCO.

Image: Minister Tsahkna (left), Minister Wadephul (centre) and Minister Valtonen (right) during the co-chairship handover

Ukrainian RFE/RL Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko Released from Custody in Occupied Crimea

23 June 2025

Ukrainian RFE/RL Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko Released from Custody in Occupied Crimea

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) welcomes Vladyslav’s release and thanks the U.S. and Ukrainian governments for efforts to bring him home.

Ukrainian Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko has been released from Russian custody in occupied Crimea.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said: “For more than four years, Vlad was arbitrarily punished for a crime he did not commit. He paid too high of a price for reporting the truth about what was taking place inside Russia-occupied Crimea. For that, he was tortured, physically and psychologically. While we celebrate his joyous reunion with his wife Kateryna, and their young daughter Stefania, we cannot overlook this family’s pain at the hands of Russian authorities.

“RFE/RL extends its deepest gratitude to the U.S. and Ukrainian governments for working with us to ensure that Vlad’s unjust detention was not prolonged. We also thank the global press freedom community for their tireless advocacy on behalf of RFE/RL’s dedicated journalists.”

This follows the releases of former RFE/RL journalist Ihar Karnei on June 21 and RFE/RL journalist Andrei Kuznechyk in February from unjust detention in Belarus thanks to the significant efforts of the Trump administration.