Spotlight Turns to AI’s Role in Shaping the Future of Journalism: World Press Freedom Day 2025
Posted: 6 May, 2025 Filed under: Hlengiwe Dube | Tags: AI, algorithmic curation, algorithms, Artificial intelligence, automated fact-checking tools, automated translation, biased news, ChatGPT, critical challenges, democracy, editorial decisions, ethical responsibilities, human rights, independent media, misinformation, multilingual content distribution, real-time content moderation, transformation, transparency, World Press Freedom Day 3 Comments
Author: Hlengiwe Dube
Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
On 3 May 2025, the world observed World Press Freedom Day. This annual commemoration is a reminder of the important role that free, independent media plays in protecting democracy, transparency, and human rights. It is a day for governments to reaffirm their obligation to safeguard press freedom, for journalists and media professionals to reflect on ethical responsibilities, and for the public to honour the many courageous media practitioners who have risked or lost their lives in the pursuit of truth. In 2025, the theme of World Press Freedom Day is as urgent as it is visionary: Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media. The theme acknowledges the profound and accelerating impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the field of journalism. As AI tools become more deeply integrated into the production, distribution, and consumption of news, this transformation brings with it both groundbreaking opportunities and critical challenges that demand global attention.
AfricLaw 