Since the COVID-19-Outbreak, public broadcasters have stepped up their engagement with audiences across a range of broadcast and online services-and viewers are turning to public media in record numbers for the trusted news and reliable information that is their hallmark.
Seven leaders of major public-service outlets from around the world came together this year to form the Global Task Force (GTF) for Public Media. Its mission is to defend the values and interests of public media: "For all these reasons, we, the members of the Global Task Force, urge policymakers and politicians to support and defend the independence of public media and of journalism more broadly. Truly independent public-service media has never been more precious to democracies around the world. Together, we will get through the current crisis."
"Our employees, our freelancers, our creative industry partners and, of course, our private-media colleagues, have shown unwavering commitment to provide essential services in these difficult times," the GTF said.

Some Initiatives:
• In Australia, audiences are turning to the ABC as their trusted news source, with its unique digital audience up 53 percent in March to 15.2 million. Dedicated content for the crisis includes the daily podcast Coronacast, which answers listeners' questions about COVID-19 and breaks down the latest news and research.

• The BBC introduced its largest-ever education offer, Bitesize Daily, with a 14-week roster of curriculum-based learning for kids throughout the U.K. (Its teaching roll call even includes Sir David Attenborough helping young ones to learn about the oceans.)

• CBC/Radio-Canada has launched several efforts to support the Canadian creative industry amid the coronavirus pandemic, including the Digital Originals funding initiative, which will provide C$1 million in funding to selected applicants to develop, create and share original or adapted works with Canadian audiences online.

• France Télévisions rallied together all of its channels to ensure that children from primary to high school can continue with their schooling thanks to the new educational platform Lumni. To answer questions about the coronavirus, franceinfo launched a new initiative, #OnVousRépond, where franceinfo's digital team responds to questions they receive.

• In New Zealand, RNZ's daily coronavirus podcast features presenter Indira Stewart sharing the latest news on the pandemic and its impact on New Zealanders. The program shares stories from everyday citizens impacted by the virus.

• Sweden's SVT has visualized aspects of COVID-19 in an interactive and easy-to-understand way through data journalism. Topics include the spread of the disease in Sweden and around the world, the economic effects and how social distancing works.

• ZDF in Germany has been adapting its programming continuously, with special broadcasts that include a variety of additional information and interactive offers that can be accessed on the ZDF web portal.