Media leaders across the world have called for stronger measures to protect access to reliable information, strengthen independent journalism and address the growing threat of disinformation and manipulated content.
They say the world is experiencing an unprecedented flow of information, yet people are increasingly struggling to establish what is true, who made important decisions and what actually happened.
The call is contained in a joint article titled “The Integrity Dividend: The Value of Knowing”, authored by David Walmsley, President of the World Editors Forum and Editor-in-Chief of the Globe and Mail; Mariya Gabriel, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information at UNESCO; and Liz Corbin, Director of News at the European Broadcasting Union.
The authors argue that societies are becoming increasingly vulnerable to confusion, manipulation and distrust as information moves faster than accountability.
They point to the rapid development of artificial intelligence, which they say has made it possible to produce plausible false information on a large scale, while online algorithms can reward sensational and controversial content over accuracy.
According to the article, the right of citizens to access accurate information is essential to freedom and meaningful participation in public life.
The authors also highlight the growing use of internet shutdowns as a major threat to access to information.
They cite data from Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition showing that 313 internet shutdowns were recorded in 52 countries in 2025, the highest number ever documented.
They say such shutdowns can disrupt journalism, silence communities and prevent people from accessing potentially life-saving information.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION
The article notes that access-to-information laws remain an important tool for promoting transparency and information integrity.
According to UNESCO’s 2025 monitoring, 141 countries have legal guarantees for access to information.
However, the authors caution that having laws in place does not necessarily mean that citizens can effectively exercise their right to information.
They identify challenges including weak oversight, difficulties with appeals and enforcement, inadequate record-keeping and poor data management.
Of the countries surveyed by UNESCO, 51 were unable to provide record-keeping data, despite reporting that systems or procedures were in place.
The authors further call for stronger and more independent information commissioners and oversight institutions.
They say such bodies can help turn legal provisions into enforceable rights but are sometimes affected by weak mandates, delayed appointments, budget cuts, political interference and limitations on their powers.
They therefore advocate adequate legal protection, resources and independence for institutions responsible for enforcing access-to-information laws.
TEST OF ACCESS LAWS
The article also refers to a 2025 test of access-to-information laws conducted jointly by UNESCO and the Centre for Law and Democracy.
The exercise involved 146 identical information requests across 76 countries.
The results showed that 38 per cent of the requests received no substantive response, while only 42 per cent resulted in full disclosure.
The average response time was 22 days.
The organisations are expected to repeat the exercise this year to assess whether access to information has improved.
ROLE OF JOURNALISM
The authors say independent and professional journalism remains essential, particularly where gaps in access to official information create an information vacuum.
They argue that journalism helps transform large volumes of information into public understanding through investigation, verification, corroboration and context.
They also say journalists play an important role in challenging disinformation and asking questions that may otherwise go unanswered.
The authors warn that disinformation has consequences beyond the media environment, affecting public health, elections, climate action, financial systems and public trust.
They cite UNESCO estimates that individual disinformation cases can generate annual economic and social costs ranging from 350 billion to 510 billion US dollars.
According to the article, the consequences make disinformation not only a communications challenge but also a governance and economic risk.
PRESSURES ON PUBLIC SERVICE MEDIA
The authors identify public service broadcasters and independent news organisations as important counterweights to disinformation.
However, they say these institutions are facing multiple pressures, including fragmented audiences, declining trust, political interference, financial constraints, dependence on digital platforms and the rapid spread of false, synthetic and manipulated content.
They argue that the ability of media organisations to continue producing quality journalism is therefore a matter of public interest.
The authors call for greater investment in public-interest journalism, editorial independence, fact-checking, open-source verification, media and information literacy, and stronger cooperation among media organisations across borders.
CALL FOR ACTION
On World News Day and the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the authors are calling on governments, technology companies and media organisations to take concrete steps to strengthen the information environment.
They urge governments to enforce access-to-information laws and protect independent oversight institutions.
Technology platforms and companies, they say, should take greater responsibility for the information environments they create, while respecting international human rights standards.
Media organisations, meanwhile, are urged to prioritise rigorous journalism, verification and accuracy rather than simply pursuing audience reach.
The authors conclude that reliable and freely accessible information is a shared public benefit that depends on effective authorities, independent journalism and citizens’ ability to access verified facts.
They say protecting the integrity of information requires collective responsibility from governments, technology companies, media organisations and the public.
