Join us for the southern Africa World Press Freedom Day discussions
PICTURE: Ron Lach/Pexels
Under the global theme, ‘The impact of Artificial Intelligence on press freedom and the media’, this year’s World Press Freedom Day commemoration marks the 34th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration for the development of the free, independent and pluralistic press.
The southern Africa regional celebrations will be hosted by South Africa in Johannesburg from 7 to 8 May 2025 under the theme, ‘Reporting in the brave new world: the impact of Artificial Intelligence on press freedom and the media’.
This theme recognises the intersection of freedom of expression and AI and will explore the challenges and risks AI poses to press freedom, including its impact on journalism, media and human rights.
The celebrations will be co-ordinated by Media Monitoring Africa with the support of the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, the Government of South Africa, the South Africa National Commission for UNESCO, the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), the Press Council of South Africa, the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) and Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD).
We aim to highlight the importance of inclusive and multi-stakeholder governance frameworks in the digital era. The event will convene diverse stakeholders, including representatives from government institutions, media regulators, civil society, academia, and the media sector
The commemorations will be held over two days. Day one, 7 May, will focus on roundtable discussions which explore topics of regulation and protection of media freedom in the digital era.
The event aims to advance and develop core principles and issues that can be further explored by the G20 and Media20. It will also seek to identify common ground across various issues, including the G20 theme of ‘Equality, Sustainability, and Solidarity‘.
The platform will also be used to launch the Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) Project, funded by the European Union, and the Big Tech Guidelines for the media, a study produced by the IGD with the support of UNESCO.
Day two, 8 May, will convene stakeholders to discuss AI and its implications for journalism, press freedom and access to information. This engagement will focus on inclusive AI governance in southern Africa, as well as digital transformation.
The programme also includes the launch of the ‘State of Press Freedom Report’ 2025.
- The venue is the Protea Fire and Ice Hotel Melrose Arch.
- Please see here, should you wish to attend
