Kathmandu, May 5th
The regional conference held in Kathmandu on Saturday, World Press Freedom Day, 2025, brought over more than 100 journalists, editors, academics, policymakers and digital rights advocates from more than six South Asian countries to explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the media.
“Reporting in a brave world: the impact of artificial intelligence on freedom of the press” was organized in collaboration with the Nepal government, the Nepal Federation of Journalists, the International Federation of Journalists and the Centre for Investigative Journalism, Nepal, Nepal, where one-day meetings are held under the global theme.
Supporting this year’s global theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World: Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom,” the day’s event included journalists, editors, civil society actors, experts, policymakers, academics and digital rights advocates.
“Now we need to equip journalists with tools to navigate the ever-changing digital age. As AI-driven media production expands, we should not exacerbate inequality or silence diverse voices. We emphasize the responsibility of everyone to ensure that AI serves democracy, empowers its citizens and protects freedom of oppression.
The unprecedented development and application of AI systems and new technologies is revolutionizing the way information is collected, processed, and disseminated. While emerging technologies, including AI, present exciting opportunities to democratize access to information, amplify global communication, and reshape news flows around the world, the conference examined how these same technologies pose important challenges, including freedom of expression, journalistic ethics, misinformation, disinformation, disinformation, and the threat of media bialism according to Media Byesco.
The event featured panel discussions, simulations and expert presentations, including group exercises led by tough talk producer Dil Bhusan Pathak and sessions on algorithm bias and data rights by body and data computer scientist Dr. Dovan Rai.
Nirmala Sharma, president of the Federation of Journalists in Nepal, said that media professionals began using them in professional workspaces, and that “we have said that media professionals have started using them in professional workspaces, by supporting laws that include a wide range of media, media professionals have started using them in professional workspaces, so we need to use new technologies and AI to provide appropriate training to journalists across the region, using emerging technologies and AI,” she said.
A UNESCO representative of Nepal’s Jaco du Thotte called for a rights-based approach to AI in the newsroom. “When using AI in the media industry, we maintain a rights-based approach and develop specific recommendations from various stakeholders so that their use can help the media flourish.”
The conference also highlighted the need for robust training, ethical standards and regional cooperation to ensure that AI increases and strengthens democratic value rather than erode press freedom, the release further said.
Participants unanimously agreed on the urgency to adopt responsible AI practices, promote media and information literacy, and promote critical thinking among key steps of media users to restore public confidence in journalism in the digital age.
