As part of activities marking World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2025, the International Press Centre (IPC) in collaboration with the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), will host a one-day Media Stakeholders’ Roundtable on the theme: “Artificial Intelligence, the Media & Press Freedom: Issues & Perspectives.”
The event, scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, is supported by IFEX, a global network of over 100 organizations committed to defending and promoting freedom of expression. It aligns with UNESCO’s WPFD 2025 global theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.”
The roundtable will bring together journalists, media professionals, academics, civil society leaders, and policymakers to critically examine the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism and press freedom.
Professor Rotimi Olatunji, President of ACSPN and Professor of Public Relations and Advertising at Lagos State University (LASU), will deliver the goodwill message to open the event. The session will be chaired by Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye, former Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
In a statement, IPC Executive Director Mr. Lanre Arogundade noted:
“As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape the global information ecosystem, the roundtable provides a vital platform to interrogate the opportunities and threats AI presents to media independence, explore the shifting roles of journalists in an AI-driven landscape, and chart strategies for protecting press freedom and ensuring journalist safety.”
A key feature of the event will be the presentation of IPC’s State of Press Freedom in Nigeria Report, offering fresh insights into current threats and trends affecting media freedom in the country.
Other highlights include a session led by Dr. Monday Ashibogwu, Managing Editor of Quick News, who will facilitate a discussion on the intersection of AI, journalism, and press freedom.
In a separate presentation, Dr. Ganiyat Tijani-Adenle of LASU will focus on the emerging risks and ethical concerns surrounding journalist safety in an AI-dominated media environment.
The final session will synthesize stakeholder perspectives into practical recommendations aimed at guiding media advocacy, policy formulation, and capacity-building.
The outcomes will be shared widely across media, academic, civil society, and government platforms to promote a rights-based approach to AI and journalism.
