Local journalists joined the global community in commemorating World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3rd. This year’s theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and Media,” highlights the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism and public communication.
AI is reshaping the media landscape by offering tools that enable faster reporting, improved access to information, and enhanced content creation. While these advancements offer exciting possibilities, they also come with challenges, particularly concerning misinformation, ethical journalism, and the safety of media practitioners.
Media Ombudsman John Nakuta noted in a statement that although AI poses certain risks to the industry, it also has the potential to revolutionize journalism. He emphasized that AI can improve fact-checking, automate routine tasks, and provide new tools for investigative reporting.
Local journalists also shared their perspectives on how AI is impacting their work and the broader media environment.
NBC journalist July Nafuka urged fellow media professionals to embrace the opportunities AI presents. “Despite the challenges we face with AI, I urge journalists to explore the opportunities it offers in research, creativity, and content creation. AI only produces what we feed into it. It doesn’t invent ideas on its own. As they say, AI won’t take our jobs, but we may lose them to those who’ve mastered AI tools. To stay relevant in this AI-driven era, journalists must strengthen their understanding and skills and see how AI can make our work more effective, accurate, and creative.”
Paheja Siririka of New Era highlighted AI's role in promoting democracy through a more capable and empowered press. “World Press Freedom Day reminds us of the vital role of a free and independent press in upholding democracy—especially in Namibia. When we speak of democracy, we’re also talking about transparency and human rights, where the media plays a critical role. In today’s fast-changing world, AI is reshaping our media landscape. It offers useful tools like language translation and data analysis. Even for journalists who may shy away from numbers, AI can simplify investigations and help us better serve our audiences.”
Similarly, Linea Dishena from the Namibian Press Agency called on journalists to adopt AI as part of their professional toolkit. “As journalists, we are media practitioners, and it’s vital to acknowledge that technological advancement hasn’t left us behind. We must integrate AI into our newsroom operations. This year’s theme urges us to embrace this new technology as a tool of our trade. Technological progress is part of every career path. It’s time for us in the media industry to explore how best we can harness AI to improve our work.”
World Press Freedom Day 2025 serves as a timely reminder that while innovation brings uncertainty, it also offers the tools for journalists to uphold the very freedoms the day is meant to protect: truth, accountability, and the public’s right to know.