By Everlyne Wanja
This year’s World Press Freedom Day event, hosted by IAWRT-Kenya, focused on a timely and transformative theme – Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of AI on Press Freedom and the Media.
One key highlight came from Nelly Moraa, who shared insights from their latest research report, noting that AI is already being broadly used in newsrooms, not to replace human labour, but to enhance it.
‘AI has not come about to replace human labour. It strengthens it.’
This message resonated strongly, especially in a room filled with women journalists who were encouraged to embrace AI as a tool for more impactful reporting.The conversation especially encouraged women journalists to explore how AI can improve their efficiency and storytelling and to engage with emerging tools that make the newsroom smarter, faster, and more inclusive.
The mood in the room was clear: journalists must not fear AI; they must shape how it is used. This means embracing innovation while remaining anchored in ethics, accuracy, and the human touch that defines good journalism.
The discussion made it clear that while AI is a powerful tool, it still needs human judgment, ethical reflection, and editorial oversight. Journalists remain at the core of storytelling. AI just helps them do it better and faster.
The takeaway? Don’t fear the future. Learn it, use it, and shape it.
© 2025 IWART Kenya
