The foundation of democracy
Opening the session, Mr. Churchill Otieno, President of TAEF, stated that media freedom is the foundation for a just society. “It is the foundation that allows journalists and news organisations to report without fear or favour, to investigate power, to inform citizens and to make our societies more just and accountable,” he noted, adding that many editors still face censorship, regulatory overreach, and personal risk. Ms. Linda Bach, Chief Executive Officer the Kenya Editors Guild, emphasized that the congress arrives as traditional media grapples with the rising influence of digital platforms, calling for “home-grown solutions”.
The media-investmentNexus
Dr. Joshua Oigara, Regional Chief Executive for East Africa at Standard Bank Group, gave a keynote in which he linked editorial integrity directly to economic survival of the media. He argued that a healthy media ecosystem is foundational to Africa’s economic future, as journalism quality dictates the cost of capital and the confidence of global investors.
« As a banker, I see how the quality of African stories affects capital flow. Capital follows reliability. Good journalism is good capital. African media should tell African stories with rigour, nuance, and ambition; it does more than inform. It attracts capital. It catalyses opportunity. It builds trust. And trust underpins transformation at scale », Oigara said.
Dr. Oigara highlighted that while trust in Sub-Saharan African media remains high, 68% in Nigeria and 65% in Kenya, these figures are fragile in an era of AI-generated content. He emphasized that “information is infrastructure” and that Standard Bank remains a committed ally to underwriting quality journalism.
Global decline in freedom of expression
In her keynote address, Ms. Louise Haxthausen, UNESCO Regional Director for Eastern Africa, presented key findings from the 2022-2025 global report, “World Trends on Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Journalism Shaping a World at Peace”.
She highlighted a severe decline in freedom of expression, with the global score falling by 10 percent between 2012 and 2024. Across Africa, the decline reached 4.12 percent over the same period, driven in large part by a nearly 35 percent surge in media self-censorship. Ms. Haxthausen noted:
« The combination of rising government pressure on media outlets, including increased control of dissenting narratives, the adoption of restrictive laws, and growing fear among journalists, has resulted in heightened self-censorship and reduced public access to independent and pluralistic information. » (Ms. Louise Haxthausen, UNESCO Regional Director for Eastern Africa)
Members of TAEF Board (from right to left) : Churchill Otieno, Jeannie Olesitse, Mathatha Tsedu, Sibusiso Ngalwa et Emmanuel Dogbevi
Despite these challenges, 1.5 billion people gained access to social media and messaging platforms between 2020 and 2025, widening access to information. In Africa, internet access grew to 38% in 2024, fostering new avenues for collaborative investigative journalism. Furthermore, nearly 60% of African countries now legally recognize community media, leading the global average of 49%.
Geopolitical pressures and future viability
Prof Kwame Karikari, founder of the Media Foundation for West Africa, noted that Africa is the "epicenter of a 21st-century scramble for resources" by global powers. He urged editors to focus on the fundamental issues shaping the future of Africa rather than just immediate survival. Prof George Nyabuga of Aga Khan University reinforced this, stating that the media must ensure its journalism remains “trustworthy, relevant and fit for purpose” to remain viable.
Building trust in the media : information integrity and media regulation
Through its Social Media 4 Peace, UNESCO led an expert sessions on information integrity, platform governance and media regulation. The discussions focused on self-regulation and co-regulation mechanisms that protect information integrity without undermining free speech. The sessions also underscored the importance of media and information literacy (MIL) to equip audiences with skills to navigate polarized digital spheres.
The Congress concluded with a specialized workshop supported by UNESCO on Resolutions 630 and 631 adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), moderated by Moxii Africa and the SOS Support Public Broadcasting Coalition. The participants called for:
- Stronger platform accountability to challenge algorithmic systems that prioritize sensationalism.
- Greater investment in African-owned digital ecosystems and reinforced ethical standards.
- A collective regional voice to secure fair compensation for journalists and ensure media policies align with international human rights standards.
Social media 4 Peace
The Social Media 4 Peace (Phase II) project, is an EU-funded UNESCO initiative that seeks to strengthen the resilience of societies to potentially harmful content spread online, in particular hate speech inciting violence, while protecting freedom of expression and enhancing the promotion of peace through digital technologies, notably social media.
FRANCE
