On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2024, the Journalists and Writers Foundation is organizing a virtual panel discussion “AI and the Future of Journalism: Human Rights Reporting” on Zoom Webinar on 3 May 2024, Friday 10:00 – 11:00 AM EST (New York Time).

Amid the latest trends of innovation, technological advancements, and artificial intelligence dominating the content creation in many different industries, the future of journalism and the aspects of human rights reporting are inevitably evolving. As half of the world population will be heading to general or local elections this year, the right to access credible and trustworthy information becomes even more profound. While the latest technologies, increasing trends of digital journalism and the power of social media outlets facilitate more convenient access for global citizens to receive information, the disruptive power of artificial intelligence must be diligently addressed. 

In countries where freedom of the press is at urgent risk and in electoral autocracies, political leaders consolidate democracy through monopolizing public discourse. To grip the power to control, limit, and manipulate the flow of information, dissident journalists are often targeted by various defamation campaigns, deepfake videos, pervasive digital harassment, and cyber-attacks. Recognizing the two-sided impacts of AI on societies should not cease innovation but rather anchor AI technologies in human rights advocacy to uphold fundamental freedoms and ensure prosperity for all. Intergovernmental agencies working on press freedom must therefore define global principles, norms, and standards to ensure and monitor AI to remain trustworthy.

By gathering experts and journalists together, the JWF aims to raise awareness of the implications of artificial intelligence for the right to access information and create a platform for media professionals to share their up-to-date experiences as they navigate through working in collaboration with AI in transforming standards and ethics of journalism.

“AI and the Future of Journalism: Human Rights Reporting” panel will address:

• Contemporary methods to disseminate trustworthy, credible and free flow of information amid shrinking right to access the internet on the global scale
• Leveraging artificial intelligence in the age of misinformation and disinformation
• Combatting challenges created by AI: online harassment and defamation
• 2024 Elections and AI: political discourse, provocative social media campaigns
• Innovative actions to empower citizen journalists and human rights reporting

Speakers:

Jenifer Fenton
Media Adviser, Journalist, Switzerland

Emily Bel
Founding Director, Tow Center for Digital Journalism,Columbia University, (USA)

Ritu Kapur
Co-Founder and Managing Director, The Quint Digital Media, India