Great insights on the future of African media by our colleague Abraham Mariita after the 2nd Annual Pan African Media Councils Summit! 👇
Project Director | Expert in Media Dev, Digital Democracy and Governance, Civic Engagement | Technical Coordinator | Passionate About Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, Civic Rights and Empowerment | MPRSK
Last week, I had the privilege of representing Internews at the 2nd Annual Pan African Media Councils Summit in Arusha, Tanzania 🌍📰 Organised by the Network of Independent Media Councils of Africa (NIMCA), alongside the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) and the East Africa Press Councils (EAPC), the summit brought together 239 delegates from 19+ countries to exchange insights on media regulation, press freedom, and policy development. Under the theme “Advancing Media and Communication Regulations for Journalism Excellence in Africa,” the forum underscored the urgent need for cross-border collaboration to address challenges such as AI, misinformation, and climate change. As Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director General for UNESCO, warned, “Trust in media is under global strain as technology reshapes information flows.” My participation at this event was a strong reminder of how deeply Internews’ work is rooted in supporting independent media ecosystems across Africa and the world. From Tanzania to Mozambique, Zambia, and beyond, Internews has partnered with local media organisations to advance open data, digital rights, AI literacy, and journalist safety – essential work now under threat due to the recent U.S. government funding cuts. In Tanzania alone, at least 28 media organisations have lost vital support, risking not only the future of African journalism but also civic spaces and democratic accountability itself. Press freedom is not just about journalists – it is about whether people can access life-saving information, challenge power, and shape decisions that impact their daily lives. A special congratulations to David Omwoyo, CEO of the Media Council of Kenya [MCK] and an Internews partner, on his election as President of the World Association of Press Councils and Chairman of the East Africa Press Council 👏 It was inspiring to witness African media leaders come together with a shared commitment to safeguarding the Fourth Estate as a pillar of democracy. + Victor Bwire Kevin Mabonga