The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) hails the courage, resilience and exceptional service of African journalists whose unwavering commitment continues to expose the truth, empower the public and strengthen democracy. On this World Press Freedom Day, the Federation honours the daily sacrifices made by media professionals across the continent and applauds their indispensable role in safeguarding freedom of expression and the right to information.
UNESCO’s 2025 theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media”, comes at a defining moment for journalism, especially in Africa. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how news is produced and consumed, bringing both innovation and immense risk simultaneously.
AI’s influence in the newsroom must not be allowed to dilute journalistic ethics, compromise editorial independence, or silence critical voices. Automated systems that generate content can undermine human editorial judgement and displace community-driven narratives, particularly from underrepresented regions.
The rise of AI-powered disinformation threatens to flood the public space with manipulated content, making it harder for the public to discern fact from fiction. In surveillance-heavy settings, AI tools pose a direct threat to journalists’ safety, potentially exposing them to greater monitoring, harassment, or retaliation by state and non-state actors.
The Federation urges the African Union, national governments, media stakeholders and tech developers to initiate enforceable safeguards that protect journalistic freedoms and uphold data privacy. AI must be governed with transparency and fairness to ensure it supports – not replaces – the essential human element of journalism. “AI cannot replace human journalists, and its output must not be considered ‘journalism’, save where it has been subject to appropriate human oversight and checking.”
Artificial Intelligence must not become a tool to suppress African journalism and cannot be used to replace the human element in reporting. It should be a force that strengthens and advances journalistic excellence. Journalists must be central in shaping how AI is integrated in media spaces – so that it serves the truth, diversity and justice,” said Omar Faruk Osman, President of the Federation of African Journalists.
The Federation calls for urgent investment in journalist training, focusing on digital literacy and AI competence, to ensure African media professionals remain empowered and protected. Public education is also critical to help communities resist manipulation and build trust in credible journalism.
FAJ stands firm in its mission to defend the rights and safety of African journalists and to promote media innovation that is both ethical and inclusive. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the global media environment, African journalism must not be side-lined or compromised.
On this World Press Freedom Day, the Federation of African Journalists expresses unwavering solidarity with journalists working under intense pressure and in danger most especially in the conflict-ridden countries of Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Burkina Faso, Somalia and Mozambique. Press freedom must not only endure in the age of AI – but it must also define its future.