Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
THE media fraternity has been urged to tap into the opportunities that are being presented by the digital revolution to develop the sector and increase its demand.
Speaking during the Matabeleland South provincial World Press Freedom Day celebrations held in Gwanda, the town’s former mayor, who is also a former lecturer at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic, Alderman Jastone Mazhale said there is a need for the traditional media to adapt to the digital revolution.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day ran under the theme. “Reporting In the Brave World: The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Press Freedom And Media”.
“World Press Freedom is rooted in the importance of promoting and protecting press freedom, the world over. The emergence of AI has changed the media landscape and continues to be the game-changer. Journalists should therefore evolve with the techno centric trends and embrace the new normal.
“As media practitioners do not be skeptical about the digital revolution but embrace the good that it brings and be ready to counter the down side of it so that you remain afloat. We can’t wish away the internet but celebrate some of the positives which include enhanced efficiency, improved fact checking, multilingual contour distribution,” he said.
Alderman Mazhale said media practitioners should however be careful of several challenges brought by artificial intelligence such as misinformation.
Since the Windhoek Declaration of 1991 and the subsequent United Nations General Assembly resolution 1993, May 3 has been declared World Press Freedom Day, commemorating the Windhoek Declaration.
This is the day where media houses, journalists, civil society organisations, human rights defenders and like-minded groups are expected to raise awareness on the importance of press freedom, democracy, good governance, transparency and accountability
@DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu