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News cameras at an event
This year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) commemorates World Press Freedom Day under the theme “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,” putting focus on the overwhelming influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on journalism and media.
As part of the commemoration, warnings have been raised about the weakening state of journalism not only in South Africa but across the globe and what its decline could mean for press freedom and democracy.
Associate Professor Sisanda Nkoala from the University of the Western Cape says the country’s media industry is facing unprecedented challenges due to evolving technologies.
“Sadly, in what we see in practice that is not always the case, media freedom is threatened through political actors, through business actors, even though how communities treat journalists. And you know, we may not see it immediately, but in the long run, our democracy is at risk if we don’t have good journalism that serves the public.”
She adds that the rapid rise digital platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) have worsened the challenges by depleting revenue and contaminating information networks.
“And it’s not just people, you know, technology, the presence of entities that are taking revenue you away from newsrooms, making them unsustainable. The presence of AI that pollutes the news content and takes away from its credibility,” adds Nkoala.
The Professor further emphasizes that all of these factors have significant effects, and that it would be a sad day to wake up to a South Africa without the strong news media that has long defined it.
Nkoala also points out the impact and dominance of major technology platforms as a critical threat responsible for oppressing traditional news outlets, highlighting their role in undermining traditional media by capturing advertising revenue that once supported journalism.
“When you see how the presence of entities like Google, Twitter, Facebook in the news media ecosystem has stripped revenue and newsrooms are on their knees, it really does raise alarm bells that can we survive this brave new world?”
PODCAST | Prof. Nkoala talks AI impact on Press Freedom
According to the professor, media loss would have serious implications for everyone, impacting societies to have a voice in important conversations and to access credible information necessary for making informed decisions about their lives.
With South African newsrooms under pressure and staff numbers shrinking, Nkoala says the survival of independent journalism cannot be taken for granted, “So, press freedom is absolutely essential and it is something that we need to ensure is preserved across the board from all the various threats that it is presented with.”
Away from financial and technological pressures, Nkoala also raised concerns about the growing intimidation journalists face when reporting on wrongdoing.
“Journalists are being harassed. They are being threatened. Their lives are being put in danger,” says Nkoala.
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