ASIA

Philippines: Female radio journalist shot dead

Filipino radio journalist Maria Vilma Rodriguez was shot dead by unknown assailants near her home in home in Zamboanga City on the southern island of Mindanao on October 22.Rodriguez, 56, used to present 105.9 Emedia FM’s news program Barangay Action Center.  She is the fifth journalist to be killed in the country since Ferdinand Marcos Jr became its president in June 2022.It takes to 200 the wider tally of journalists killed in the country since democracy was restored in 1986, according to data from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).Police arrested a suspect on Wednesday, said Zamboanga City police official Kimberly Molitas, but declined to identify the individual. Police were looking at a family feud as a potential motive, she added.NUJP Zamboanga City said: “We condemn this atrocious attack against a journalist and a woman at that. We are urging the Zamboanga City Police Office to probe deeper into this, unmask the killers and their masterminds, and put them behind bars. We don’t need a tale of another unsolved case that ended up as archives or statistics.”The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The IFJ strongly condemns the killing of journalist Maria Vilma Rodriguez. The Marcos Jr. Government must do more to ensure the safety of Filipino journalists and media workers. The Federation urges Philippine authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into her murder, determine the motive behind the attack, and hold those responsible to account.”“These kinds of vile and atrocious acts have no place in our nation, which values freedom, democracy, and the rule of law above all,” the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement, describing the attack as barbaric and calling upon the authorities to conduct a swift and impartial probe into the incident.“The killing of radio reporter Maria Vilma Rodriguez shows that the murderers of journalists remain undeterred in the Philippines,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “Until President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s government firmly moves to end impunity, these heinous crimes against the press will continue.”

The Philippines ranked eighth on CPJ’s most recent Impunity Index, a global ranking of countries where journalists’ murderers are most likely to go free. […]

UK

PRS Exec calls for protection of intellectual property on British IP Day

In an address at the House of Commons, John Mottram, Chief Strategy, Communications & Public Affairs Officer at PRS for Music called for protection of intellectual property.

The parliamentary reception to MPs, policymakers, government officials, songwriters and composers on British IP Day was hosted by Pete Wishart MP and The Alliance for Intellectual Property, in partnership with PRS for Music and DACS.
John Mottram spoke of the need to protect the intellectual property of music creators in the face of AI being adopted.
He said: This year is a special year for PRS, it marks our 110th anniversary. Since 1914 we have had the honour to represent more than 175,000 songwriters, composers and publishers.
“Over the past 110 years the music industry has changed beyond recognition, however what has remained constant is the critical role of intellectual property (IP) in our sector.
“PRS for Music, like so many others in this room, exists to ensure the artistic brilliance of the UK’s creators are rewarded whenever and wherever their works are used.
“Our members depend on copyright, and our ability to license it, to earn a living from their craft and to build their businesses.
“In a digital global market, competition for our eyes and ears has never been greater. At a time when the UK is seeking to restart economic growth, our creative businesses need the confidence to innovate and to invest.
“Confidence which relies upon certainty and the protection of their works, both here and internationally.”
Stating that AI is a massive issue and challenge, he said that it’s also an opportunity. Acknowledging AI companies are businesses like any other and are raising billions, if not trillions, of investment for their new services and tools, he said in his experience investors expect to see significant returns on their investments.
Continuing, he added: “Despite this, it is the creators, without whom these AI services would not exist, who are too often told, it is unreasonable for them to continue to expect to control their musical works or be properly and accurately paid for them. This is a broken narrative.
“We need to strike a balance, otherwise we risk an irreversible shift of value away from the UK’s creative industries, and in the longer-term could erode even the possibility of a creative career.
“Creators, like all of us, recognise the opportunity of AI. A survey of PRS members last year showed 30% were already using AI to assist in the creation of music, with more than half expected to be using it in the future.
“They don’t want to slow the advancement of AI. They just believe it can, and should, be fairer.”

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US

Radio One Appoints Claudia DeLeon As Head of Spanish Broadcast Operations and Cleveland VP/General Manager

As part of its deal with La Mega Media and Lazo Media to begin operations of their Spanish language brands in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Indianapolis, Urban One has appointed their Chief Operating Officer Claudia DeLeon as VP/General Manager of Radio One Cleveland and Head of Spanish Broadcast Operations for Urban One. […]