Event
World Press Freedom Day 2025 – South Asia Regional Conference
Background
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way information is created, distributed, and consumed, shaping not only the future of the media sector but also the very contours of press freedom and the role of journalists. In South Asia, where the media landscape is diverse, dynamic, and under increasing pressure, AI presents both transformative opportunities and critical risks.
From automating newsroom tasks to influencing content visibility through opaque algorithms, AI is deeply embedded in the emerging architecture of news and the work of journalists. AI can assist journalists with tasks such as data analysis, fact checking and potentially freeing up time for more in-depth reporting and investigative work. While it can enhance media workflows, improve audience engagement, and counter disinformation, it also amplifies systemic biases, facilitates surveillance, and exacerbates online abuse—particularly for women journalists and marginalized voices.
The media landscape in Asia and the Pacific is undergoing rapid technological transformation, driving mobile-first news consumption, the proliferation of diverse digital platforms challenging legacy media, and the growing influence of social media as primary sources of information. UNESCO's World Trends Report for Asia and the Pacific, reveal key elements such as the increasing challenges of combating disinformation amplified by algorithmic content recommendation, the struggle for media viability amidst shifting advertising revenues towards global tech platforms, and the imperative for enhanced digital literacy to navigate an increasingly complex information ecosystem.
The World Press Freedom Day 2025 South Asia Regional Conference will provide a vital platform to examine these dynamics through a regional lens. Journalists, editors, civil society actors, policymakers, academics, and digital rights advocates from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives will come together in Kathmandu to reflect on the evolving relationship between AI and press freedom, share country-specific experiences, and co-develop a shared vision for ethical and rights-based AI integration in media.
Objective of the Conference
Assess AI’s impact on news, media content creation and dissemination, exploring its effect on media pluralism, diversity, and independence.
Emphasize the importance of information integrity on AI impacts.
Promote media and information literacy skills to strengthen critical thinking and competencies needed to understand the use and implication of AI systems
Key Thematic Areas
1. AI and Media Viability
AI technologies are reshaping the economics and structures of media organizations—from automated reporting to content curation and targeting advertisements. While they offer efficiency, they also raise pressing questions about sustainability, job displacement, and editorial control. UNESCO's recently launched initiative in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh is investigating how generative AI affects media business models, with particular attention to marginalized communities and gender dynamics. This conference will deepen that discussion by highlighting regional case studies and policy gaps.
2. AI and the Safety of Women Journalists
Existing gender-based online violence is being intensified by AI tools that can be weaponized for harassment, deepfakes, and surveillance. The IFJ’s South Asia Press Freedom Report 2023-24 specifically noted that women journalists in the region face heightened vulnerabilities, making the discussion on how AI can further impact their safety online and offline. UNESCO’s ongoing work on strengthening digital safety for Nepali women addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Nepal equips women journalists with digital safety skills and online resilience. The conference will surface these experiences and push for AI governance frameworks that are sensitive to gender and power dynamics.
3. AI and Journalism Practices
AI is no longer an optional tool in journalism—it is becoming integral to news production, fact-checking, translation, and personalization. Yet, there is a wide gap in AI literacy among journalists and journalism educators in South Asia. The sessions will highlight regional efforts, such as UNESCO’s "Advancing AI-informed journalism" project, and encourage cross-border collaboration to develop curricula, training, and shared professional standards that support ethical and inclusive reporting in the age of AI.
Partners
The Government of Nepal
Center for Investigative Journalism
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ)
Participants
The conference will bring together:
Journalists, editors, and media professionals from six South Asian countries.
Academics, journalism educators, and students.
Civil society leaders and digital rights advocates.
Representatives from development partners and UN agencies.
Policymakers and government representatives are involved in media regulation, digital governance, and gender equality.
Key Features of the Conference
Policy dialogue on AI and media freedom.
Thematic sessions on key challenges and opportunities on media viability, safety of women journalists, and evolving journalism practices in the age of AI.
Practical AI dilemma simulation exercise to engage with real-world ethical challenges.
Expected Outcomes
Greater awareness among stakeholders of the risks, opportunities, and ethical complexities of AI in the media sector.
Stronger regional networks of collaboration around AI policy, journalist safety, and media freedom.
Empowerment of women journalists and underrepresented communities to participate in shaping digital futures.
Shared principles for navigating AI’s role in journalism—emerging from participatory, cross-sectoral dialogue.
