PURPOSE: 3 May acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect the commitment made to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media workers which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the pursuit of a story.
FORUM: "Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media." World Press Freedom Day 2025. The observance will focus on the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism, media, and human rights. The Key topics include the transformative role of AI in content generation, information analysis, and dissemination, as well as the ethical challenges, accountability, and issues of mis/disinformation and bias it introduces. The World Press Freedom Day Conference 2025 aims to examine AI's impact on press freedom, exploring how Artificial Intelligence affects the free flow of information, media freedom, and the achievement of SDG 16.10 to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.
The discussion will:
Reaffirm the universal commitment to freedom of expression and press freedom
Explore AI's effects on media pluralism, diversity, and independence
Assess AI impact on news and media content creation and dissemination
Encourage media to make ethical use of AI systems in their operations
Strengthen collaboration between media stakeholders
Support enabling environments for media to have the rights and resources to effectively report on the benefits and harms of AI systems,
Encourage global cooperation for journalists safety.
Support media integration of AI, focusing on viability and representation
Emphasize the importance of information integrity on AI impacts.
Promote media and information literacy skills to strengthen critical thinking and competencies needed to understand the use and implication of AI systems.
Follow the conversation with the hashtags:#WPFD2025, #reportinginthebravenewworld, #ai, #WorldPressFreedomDay, #freedomofexpression, #PressFreedom, #journalism, #3may.
EVENTS: On May 7th 2025; From 09:30 to 18:00 Europe/Paris; A one-day signature global event will take place at Bozar, Center for Fine Arts in Brussels on information as a public good in the age of AI. This year the World Press Freedom Day global commemoration will focus on the profound influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism and media under the theme: Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media. AI is transforming journalism, providing tools that enhance investigative reporting, content creation, and fact-checking. It allows for greater efficiency, multilingual accessibility, and improved data analysis. However, these advancements also bring risks: AI-generated misinformation and disinformation, deepfake technology, biased content moderation, and surveillance threats to journalists. Additionally, AI's role in the media business model raises concerns about fair remuneration for journalistic content and media viability. The event will explore these complex issues, bringing together journalists, policymakers, media professionals, and civil society actors to ensure AI strengthens, rather than undermines, press freedom and democratic values. Durin the two plenaries, participants will debate on Plenary I: “AI and the future of Journalism” and Plenary II: “Freedom of expression and AI: Press Freedom, Information Integrity, and the Rule of Law”. Get the concept note, the Agenda Programme and before all Register to participate!
PARALLEL EVENTS: From May 2 to 6th, 2025, several parallel events will be held the commemoration of the Day at the UNESCO Liaison office in Brussels. If you are interested in attending the events at its new location, you are required to register again using this for contact wpfd@unesco.org. Explore the celebrations around the world and the lists the Side-events!
PRIZES: The observance will be also the occasion to award the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, which recognizes and honors the contributions of journalists, particularly those who risk their lives to provide essential information to the public. You can Watch in live the award ceremony!
STATEMENTS: Read the statement of The United Nations Secretary-General on World Press Freedom Day 2025 and statement of the Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2025.
PUBLICATION: RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025: economic fragility a leading threat to press freedom. Although physical attacks against journalists are the most visible violations of press freedom, economic pressure is also a major, more insidious problem. The economic indicator on the RSF World Press Freedom Index now stands at an unprecedented, critical low as its decline continued in 2025. As a result, the global state of press freedom is now classified as a “difficult situation” for the first time in the history of the Index.
PODCASTS: In 2024, 82 journalists lost their lives, just for doing their job. To mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, we honor all those who risk their safety to defend the public’s right to know – including the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa, winner of this year’s UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. Let us engage together to protect press freedom, reaffirm the vital importance of freedom of expression, and shape a future where human rights are at the centre of decision making at the global, regional and national level. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: "Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media." On #WorldPressFreedomDay, we celebrate and support journalists and media outlets who are targeted for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. Download the visual identity in 6 UN languages and Disseminate the campaign across different media and social media outlets. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
The World Press Freedom Day invites us to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
In the 75 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration, the right to freedom of expression has been further affirmed and enshrined in numerous international instruments; the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, among many other global and regional standards. While all human rights are universal, interdependent, indivisible and interrelated; freedom of expression’s function as an enabler for other human rights has been further explored by relevant United Nations treaty bodies and committees in charge of international instruments, who published their interpretation of provisions in the form of general comments or recommendations. On this occasion, the global community will debate and set the agenda for both the development of human rights and how to protect them in an everchanging world, and World Press Freedom Day will serve as an opportunity to put a strong focus on freedom of expression within the overall human rights agenda.
ACTIONS
Raise awareness about the issues of the Day’s theme.
Underline the importance of information within our online media environment.
Celebrate the day for instance by teaming up with organizations promoting environmental causes, women’s rights, children'srights, indigenous rights, digital rights, the fight against corruption and others.
Mobilize top newspapers and media organizations and leading journalists, experts, influencers, and activists around the world.
Support independent journalism.
Ensure greater transparency of online platforms.
Develop media and information literacy.
Engage top media newspapers, outlets and broadcasters (TV and radio) from around the world to disseminate the campaign materials.
Organize events that spotlight thelink between press freedom, freedom of expression and other rights.
PARTNERSHIPS
The events are organized by the World Press Freedom's community including civil society organizations, universities, media freedom networks and other New York-based and international organizations. This year’s Special 30th anniversary celebration of World Press Freedom Day is therefore a call to recentre press freedom, as well as independent, pluralistic and diverse media, as necessary key to the enjoyment of all other human rights. This anniversary coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Conference and its Declaration and Programme of Action on Human Rights, which established important institutions safeguarding human rights, and with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
UNESCO coordinates the Day, which involve around 100 celebrations in countries around the globe and leads the main celebration by organizing a global conference together with the host government and various partners working in the field of freedom of expression. For more information Contact wpfd@unesco.org