ABC signs MoUs in Malaysia, Mongolia and Timor-Leste

2 February 2026

ABC signs MoUs in Malaysia, Mongolia and Timor-Leste

ABC International has continued to strengthen its regional partnerships in 2026, signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with broadcasters and media organisations in Malaysia, Mongolia and Timor-Leste.

Under the successful program which began in 2022, ABC International has signed 23 similar agreements with leading media organisations in Asia and the Pacific which focus on opportunities to share content, exchange expertise and knowledge, and undertake technical training and media development initiatives.

In the latest round of agreements, ABC International formalised tailored agreements with Timor-Leste’s public service news agency Tatoli, Mongolian National Broadcaster (MNB) and Malaysian state broadcaster Sarawak Media Group (SMG).

The MoUs with MNB and SMG facilitate opportunities for content sharing of news and current affairs, factual, sports and lifestyle programming, in addition to the exchange of technical advice and information, while the Tatoli agreement also includes provisions for ongoing collaboration with ABC International’s media development arm, ABC International Development, which has worked closely with Tatoli in recent years in launching an English-language news service and other capacity building initiatives.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said, “ABC International has worked tirelessly over the past four years to fortify our relationships with like-minded, regional partners and formalise tailored agreements with them. Each MoU establishes a framework for collaboration across areas such as content and information sharing, and media capacity building, and in doing so, brings new opportunities for meaningful engagement.

“We are proud to announce these latest agreements with Tatoli, MNB and SMG, and look forward to the emerging possibilities for closer collaboration and how we can best work together to support and serve our respective audiences through these partnerships.”

The ABC has also recently renewed its partnership with Canadian national broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada, signing an updated MoU to support content and distribution-related initiatives, including the development of a new children’s co-production It’s Andrew! set to premiere in Australia in 2026.

France Médias Monde achieved record-breaking 2025 across digital platforms

1 February 2026

France Médias Monde achieved record-breaking 2025 across digital platforms

In 2025, France Médias Monde achieved new all-time highs across its digital platforms, recording nearly 5 billion video views and launches (+27% vs. 2024) and 480 million visits across its websites and mobile applications. As a result, 94 million people (up from 75 million in 2024) were in weekly contact with the Group’s media outlets via digital platforms.

On social media, France Médias Monde’s channels now bring together more than 127 million followers (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and X), with robust growth on Instagram (+110%) and a sharp rise on TikTok, where the community has quadrupled in one year.

In an unstable international context marked by the growing spread of manipulated information, these results reflect audiences’ trust in the professional and independent journalism produced by RFI, France 24, Monte Carlo Doualiya, as well as by the Group’s ‘pure-player’ digital outlets InfoMigrants, ENTR, and ZOA.

Video in high demand

France 24 recorded last year 2.6 billion video launches (+12%), confirming its position as the leading French media outlet on YouTube, with nearly 110 million monthly views and a community of over 18 million subscribers across four languages (English, French, Arabic, and Spanish).

RFI established a new video record with more than 1.8 billion views (+66%), including over 500 million views in African languages (a threefold increase in one year).

MCD recorded more than 253 million video views.

Pure-player digital outlets find their audiences

France Médias Monde’s three 100% digital offerings generated more than 330 million video launches in 2025: ENTR, developed with Deutsche Welle; InfoMigrants, developed with Deutsche Welle and ANSA; and ZOA, the digital media outlet launched last October by young Africans for young Africans, which gathered over 22 million views in just three months and has already built a community of 400,000 followers across its distribution platforms.

These performances confirm the success of France Médias Monde’s global digital strategy. Based on a reasoned hyper-distribution approach, the Group’s digital framework aims to develop offerings tailored to all uses and platforms, as well as the strong global appetite for French international media outlets.

Submissions Are Open for the 17th TRT International Documentary Awards

23 January 2026

Submissions Are Open for the 17th TRT International Documentary Awards

The 17th edition of the TRT International Documentary Awards returns this year, once again bringing powerful stories about people, nature, life, and history to audiences around the world.

In line with its mission to support documentary storytelling, the competition is open not only to completed films that meet the entry requirements but also to projects still in the idea or story stage that have not yet entered production. Detailed information about the competition rules, schedule, awards, and application guidelines can be found at www.trtbelgesel.com/en

Participation is entirely free of charge.

Awards will be presented across four categories: International Category, National Professional Category, National Student Films Category, and Project Development Category. In total, 12 awards will be granted to outstanding works.

The deadline for submissions is 3 April 2026, with the results of the preliminary selection to be announced on 10 April 2026.

Jury evaluations will take place between 4-7 June 2026, and the winners will be honored at the official award ceremony on 7 June 2026.

AIB publishes new member briefing on social media, disinformation and trust in news

15 January 2026

AIB publishes new member briefing on social media, disinformation and trust in news

The Association for International Broadcasting has published a new member-only briefing, Social Danger?, examining the implications of the continuing shift towards social media as a primary source of news and information.

The briefing has been produced in response to growing concern across the international media community about the scale, sophistication and impact of disinformation, fake social media accounts and coordinated influence operations — and the challenges these pose for trusted news organisations.

Rather than focusing on individual incidents or claims, the briefing provides strategic context and operational insight into how social media environments shape audience behaviour, how false narratives are embedded and amplified, and why professional journalism faces a structural disadvantage inside algorithmically driven feeds.

What the briefing covers

Without revealing specific findings, the briefing explores:

How changes in news consumption behaviour are affecting audience trust and scrutiny
Why social platforms can unintentionally favour misinformation and emotional content
The growing role of coordinated fake accounts and influence operations in exploiting social media dynamics
The implications for international broadcasters, public service media and funders

Importantly, the briefing is designed as a working reference document, not a one-off read. It includes:

A paired risk–mitigation matrix, helping organisations assess editorial, strategic, geopolitical and reputational risks and map them to practical responses
A directory of investigative organisations and reference points, enabling members to track and verify future developments in this area

Why this matters

For broadcasters, the issues addressed in Social Danger? go well beyond social media strategy. They affect:

Editorial integrity and brand trust
Strategic planning and risk management
Engagement with regulators, funders and policymakers
The long-term sustainability of public-interest journalism

Accessing the briefing

Social Danger? is available exclusively to AIB members as part of the Association’s programme of practical briefings and industry support.

Non-members who would like to learn more about the briefing, or about AIB membership and its benefits, are invited to contact the AIB Secretariat at contactaib@aib.org.uk.

France 24 launches video competition about Europe – open to young people

15 January 2026

France 24 launches video competition about Europe – open to young people

In partnership with the European Parliament and the European Commission

France 24 is launching a video competition open to high school students, university students, and students enrolled in journalism or audiovisual schools in France and across Europe, with the aim of giving a voice to the younger generation on Europe. Participants are invited to submit an original video lasting between one and four minutes, in English or French, expressing their perspective on contemporary Europe, including its values, challenges, and realities.

Two themes to choose from:

A cohesive Europe (solidarity between regions)
Fake news about Europe and the European Parliament

This competition welcomes a wide range of styles, including news reports, documentaries, short films, and interviews, among others. Submissions are open until May 4, 2026.

A jury, composed of prominent European figures, representatives of European institutions in Paris, as well as Caroline de Camaret, Europe Editor-in-Chief of France 24, and Armen Georgian, Europe editor at France 24, will award three prizes in each of the themes, for a total of six:

The High School Student Prize;
The University Student Prize, open to students from universities, audiovisual schools, and BTS/IUT programmes;
and the Expert Prize, dedicated to students enrolled in journalism schools.

The winners will be invited to attend the awards ceremony at Europa Experience in Paris and to spend a day behind the scenes at the France 24 newsroom. A feature will be produced about them, and their winning videos will be broadcast on France 24 as part of the programmes ‘Europe Rendevous’ in English and ‘Aux 4 Coins de l’Europe’ in French.

Registration details and full competition rules:

FRANCE 24 launches a major video competition about Europe, open to young people! – France 24

[Source: France 24 press release]

TRT has officially opened applications for 12 Punto 2026

15 January 2026

TRT has officially opened applications for 12 Punto 2026

TRT Opens Applications for 12 Punto 2026, Türkiye’s Leading Script Development and Co-Production Platform

TRT has officially opened applications for 12 Punto 2026, Türkiye’s largest script development and co-production platform, to be held for the eighth time this year. Applications will be accepted from January 12 to February 12, 2026.

Designed to support strong and original film scripts, foster international success, and connect emerging talents with experienced filmmakers, 12 Punto 2026 is open to feature-length and short film projects with a Turkish main producer, as well as international feature film projects with a minority Turkish co-producer.

International Co-Productions with Turkish Partners

International feature film projects with a minority Turkish co-producer are eligible to apply for the TRT International Co-Production Award, with submissions made by the Turkish co-producer. Through this award, 12 Punto continues to strengthen the global presence of Turkish cinema.

Previous award-winning projects have achieved notable international success, premiering and competing at major festivals such as Venice, Berlin, Locarno, Sundance, Sarajevo, and Antalya, and earning multiple international awards.

Awards for Turkish Feature and Short Film Projects

Turkish feature film projects will be evaluated by a five-member pre-jury of directors, producers, and screenwriters, who will select 12 finalist projects. Following script development sessions and pitching consultations with leading mentors, the finalists will present their projects to an international jury. The jury will award three TRT Co-Production Awards and three TRT Pre-Buy Awards.

Turkish short film projects are also eligible to apply. Six short film projects will be selected to participate in script consultancy sessions with top mentors.

A Platform with Growing Global Reach

In 2025, 12 Punto received 427 applications, including 110 feature-length and 317 short film projects, from both Turkish and international categories. Each year, the platform hosts an international jury composed of prominent figures from world cinema. The 2025 jury included acclaimed director Andrey Zvyagintsev, filmmaker Jessica Hausner, Golden Globe Awards President Helen Hoehne, ARTE France Cinema Managing Director Olivier Père, and actress Yasmine Al Massri.

12 Punto 2026 to Be Held in Istanbul

12 Punto 2026 will take place in Istanbul from July 12–19, 2026. In addition to project meetings, the program will feature panels, masterclasses, screenings, and talks for both industry professionals and cinema audiences. Awards will be presented at the Closing and Awards Ceremony on July 19, 2026. For applications and detailed information, visit www.trt12punto.com/en/