The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media

-
“Biased algorithms, outright lies, and hate speech are landmines on the information superhighway. Accurate, verifiable, fact-based information is the best tool to defuse them.”- UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Journalism as a profession continues to be the bedrock of democracy. Yet, in some societies governments have placed obstacles in the path of members of the Fourth Estate. Unsurprisingly, in such societies press freedom is handicapped and the pursuit of the truth is dangerous. Undoubtedly, an atmosphere of transparency and fairness are critical pillars for journalism to thrive. Unfortunately, in a growing number of countries, the media landscape is characterized in fear and intimidation. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence has also added another complex layer for journalists to navigate. The rapid growth and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the media landscape and press freedom in multiple ways. Whereas the principles of free, independent, and pluralistic media remain crucial, AI's impact on information gathering, processing, and dissemination is profound, presenting both innovative opportunities and serious challenges. It is therefore critical that the profession of journalism be responsive to the changing dynamics of the line of work. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. This year the World Press Freedom Day global commemoration will focus on the profound influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism and media under the theme: Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media. Undoubtedly, AI can help support freedom of expression by making information easier to access, allowing more people to communicate across the world, and changing how information flows globally. On the other hand, AI brings new risks. It can be used to spread false or misleading information, increase online hate communication, and support new types of censorship. AI can be used for nefarious activities such as the mass surveillance of journalists and citizens, creating a frightening effect on freedom of expression. AI is currently being used to filter and control what content is seen and therefore is changing the gatekeepers of information. There are growing concerns that AI may make global media too similar, reduce different viewpoints, and push out smaller media outlets. Media Concentration and Consolidation. The dominance that tech giants such as Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, X and Microsoft have over the dissemination of information is also problematic given that the ownership of these companies are concentrated in a few hands. In addition to the loss of advertising revenue, which has severely disrupted and constrained the media economy, media ownership concentration is another key factor in the deterioration of the Index’s economic indicator and poses a serious threat to media plurality. These largely unregulated platforms are absorbing an ever-growing share of advertising revenues that would usually support journalism. Total spending on advertising through social media reached 247.3 billion USD in 2024, a 14 per cent increase compared to 2023. These online platforms further hamper the information space by contributing to the spread of manipulated and misleading content, amplifying disinformation. AI can also help media organizations by automating tasks, making them more efficient and helping them keep up with demand. But at the same time, the financial health of many media outlets is weakening. Generative AI tools reuse journalistic content without fair payment, taking away income from independent media and giving it to tech platforms and AI companies. AI is playing a bigger role in elections, helping with fact-checking and fighting disinformation. It also gives tools to journalists and voters to support informed participation in democracy. But AI also creates risks. It can be used to make fake but realistic content, like deep fakes, which can damage trust in democratic systems. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among governments, media, and civil society. The UN Global Digital Compact says it’s important to deal with problems caused by technology while still protecting people’s privacy and freedom of expression. Ranking of Countries. Norway topped the global rankings for the ninth year in a row, followed by Estonia and the Netherlands. The situation was rated as "good" only in seven countries, all of which are located in Europe. Global press freedoms were at an "all-time low," Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in its annual ranking report. Interestingly, Donald Trump on Friday announced an executive order cutting funding to public news outlets NPR and PBS, calling them biased. He also said he was considering taking legal action against The New York Times. The five main indicators used to determine the World Press Freedom Index are: political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and safety. These indicators reflect the situation of press freedom in each country, with each contributing equally to the overall score. The US fell two places from 2024 to the 57th spot behind Sierra Leone in West Africa. The report said vast regions of the US were turning into "news deserts." Other notable countries are as follows: United Kingdom is ranked at 20th, Canada is ranked 21st. the United States of America is ranked 56th. Ukraine at 62, Guyana at 73, Haiti at 111, India at 151, Venezuela at 160, Cuba at 165, Russia at 171, China at 178 and North Korea at 179. The Reporters Without Borders report states that in Gaza, the Israeli army has destroyed newsrooms, killed nearly 200 journalists and imposed a total blockade on the strip for over 18 months. Press Freedom in the Caribbean. In 2025, Trinidad and Tobago leads the Caribbean in press freedom, while Jamaica has slipped slightly, ranking 26th globally. Despite Jamaica's decline, it remains the second-highest ranked Caribbean nation. The World Press Freedom Index highlights a growing gulf of mistrust between the media and government officials, contributing to a decline in institutional respect for press freedom. The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has expressed concern that the country has slipped two places on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. According to a recently released report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Jamaica is now ranked 26th on the World Press Freedom Index, down from the 24th position held in 2024. The association noted in particular the recent Supreme Court ruling in a defamation case against The Gleaner which it said raises serious concerns about how journalists will continue to benefit from legal protections that have long undergirded effective, timely and responsible coverage of parliamentary proceedings. It said this move undermines the long-established legal defence of the principle of qualified privilege, which protects journalists who fairly and accurately report on matters discussed in Parliament. “The use of the courts to sanction such reporting sends a chilling message to all journalists engaged in parliamentary reporting. It is a direct threat to freedom of expression and the media’s role as watchdog,” the PAJ explained. The association further pointed to the failure to update the Access to Information (ATI) Act which it deemed a major structural weakness affecting press freedom in Jamaica. It said for years, the PAJ and civil society have called for a revised law that reflects the current digital age, limits bureaucratic delay and removes excessive exemptions but said that despite repeated promises, the review remains stalled. The PAJ added, “It is important to recall that the country once held a top 10 position, reaching an all-time high of sixth place in 2020. That decline over the last five years underscores the urgent need for meaningful interventions to preserve the gains made and strengthen our commitment to press freedom. Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The 17 SDGs are integrated; they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. Goal #16 addresses the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. People everywhere should be free of fear from all forms of violence and feel safe as they go about their lives whatever their ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation. World Press Freedom Day is a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their integrity and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. We salute all journalists on this World Press Freedom Day who continue to pursue to truth fearlessly; we also echo the call for the release of all journalists who have been falsely imprisoned. In the words of Nelson Mandela, a critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy. The press must be free from state interference. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #WorldPressFreedomDay #FourthEstate #Artificialintelligence #AI

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

International Men's Day

-
Image
“International Men’s Day has the potential to become the global medium to heal our world. The concept and themes of International Men’s Day are designed to give hope to the depressed, faith to the lonely, comfort to the broken-hearted, transcend barriers, eliminate stereotypes and create a more caring humanity.”- Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh. At times it appears there is a double standard regarding how societies put in place measures concerning the observation and celebration of manhood and masculinity. Men are socialized to be rough and tough. Interestingly, this gendered socialization is perpetuated by many women in the societies given that so many of our families are female-headed households. Men who championed men’s rights are oftentimes viewed with suspicion; however, the same microscope is not applied to women who championed women’s rights. In fact there are very few organizations which are dedicated to the empowerment of our men and boys. The structure of most education systems ...
Read more

Interrogating Black Fatherhood

-
Image
“What I've realized is that life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children all of our children a better world. Any fool can have a child. That doesn't make you a father. It's the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.”- Barack Obama. Fatherhood, especially black fatherhood oftentimes is not as celebrated as it should. As a result we continue to hear of the arguments surrounding my mother who fathered me. There are specific roles concerning the sexes and frankly speaking mothers cannot father children, likewise fathers cannot mother children. Indeed as a society we need to move the discussion away from these examples of oxymoron. This flawed premise has been around so long and unfortunately has become normalized in many societies. However, the time has come for us to have a serious and honest discussion as this argument must be interrogated and replaced with a sense of responsibility. In fact, there is one m...
Read more

National Bird Day

-
Image
“Wherever there are birds, there is hope.”- Mehmet Murat Ildan. Birds have always held a special place in our hearts. According to Born Free USA , nearly 12 percent of the world's almost 10,000 bird species are in danger of extinction. Regrettably, each year, millions of birds are captured from the wild or produced in captivity for commercial profit or human amusement, only to waste away in conditions that fail to meet the instinctive behavioral and physical needs of these wild animals. National Bird Day , celebrated on January 5 each year, is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of birds in our ecosystems and their conservation. The day encourages people to appreciate the beauty, diversity, and significance of birds while promoting efforts to protect their habitats. National Bird Day was first established in 2002 by the Avian Welfare Coalition. The day not only draws attention to the pressing issues of bird extinction and habitat destruction but also encoura...
Read more