UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

05/08/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/09/2025 07:41

World Press Freedom Day 2025 – South Asia Regional Conference

Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media
Launch of the South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024/2025 By International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
UNESCO
18 April 2025
Last update:8 May 2025
Background
South Asia Regional Conference celebrating World Press Freedom Day 2025, organized in Kathmandu, explored the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the media landscape and its profound implications for the journalism profession. Underpinning this year's global theme, "Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom," the conference brought together over 100 participants, including journalists, editors, civil society actors, experts, policymakers, academics, and digital rights advocates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

We now need to equip journalists with tools to navigate an ever-changing digital era. As AI-driven media production expands, we must ensure it does not further exacerbate inequalities or silence diverse voices. We need to create a future where journalists-especially women and those from marginalized communities-can work safely, securely, and sustainably.
Hanaa Singer Hamdy
UN Resident Coordinator to Nepal
Hanaa Singer Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator to Nepal speaking at the opening of the conference
UNESCO
Hanaa Singer Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator to Nepal speaking at the opening session of the conference

The unprecedented development and application of AI systems and new technologies are revolutionizing how information is gathered, processed, and disseminated. While emerging technologies, including AI, present exciting opportunities to democratize access to information, amplify global communication, and reshape the flow of news worldwide, the conference also examined how these same technologies are posing significant challenges, including threats to freedom of expression, information integrity, journalism ethics, misinformation, disinformation, and media viability.

Organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, Federation of Nepali Journalists, International Federation of Journalists, and Centre for Investigative Journalism Nepal, the daylong conference featured discussions on critical topics such as press freedom in the South Asian region and the impact of AI in journalism practices, media viability, and the safety of journalists (especially women journalists). In addition, the conference examined AI's impact on press freedom, algorithm bias, and editorial dilemmas through a group simulation led by Dil Bhusan Pathak, producer of TOUGH Talk, and a presentation by Dr. Dovan Rai, computer scientist, Body and Data.

Stating that there is a need to provide adequate training to journalists from across the region on utilizing emerging technologies and AI, now that media professionals have begun using them in their professional workspaces, Nirmala Sharma, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, said, "We need to create laws involving and engaging a wide range of relevant stakeholders. By doing so, we can ensure that the laws made will be stronger and in support of the media and media professionals."

Nirmala Sharma, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists speaking at the opening of the conference
UNESCO
The conference also provided an interactive platform for question-and-answer sessions between panelists and participants who joined online and in person, highlighting the importance of having guidelines for the use of AI in the newsroom.

Panel sessions
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Let us keep a rights-based approach when using AI in the media industry and formulate concrete recommendations of different stakeholders so that its use can help thrive the media.
Jaco Du Toit, UNESCO Representative to Nepal
In addition, Mr Jaco also expressed UNESCO's and the UN's ongoing work in creating an enabling environment where media can thrive through professional journalism and contribute meaningfully to information for the public good, especially in the face of emerging challenges like the rise of AI.

The conference involved a wide range of stakeholders and experts from the South Asia region, promoting and calling for global cooperation for journalist safety, strengthened regional cooperation to promote ethical AI policies, and ensuring that the development of AI technologies serves to enhance, rather than undermine, press freedom and access to information in South Asia. Concluding the conference, participants unanimously agreed on the urgent need for key stakeholders to implement recommendations aimed at restoring trust in media when using AI, emphasizing the vital role of Media and Information Literacy, the necessity of training journalists to effectively utilize new technologies, and the crucial reminder for all to exercise critical thinking before engaging with online content.
UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization published this content on May 08, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 09, 2025 at 13:41 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io