World Press Freedom Day

An independent organization for journalists in Sudan has been honoured for its commitment “to deliver accurate, lifesaving information” amid the ongoing civil war, the UN educational and cultural agency UNESCO announced on Thursday. The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate is the latest recipient of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in recognition of the role it has played in condemning the deliberate targeting of media workers in the conflict. The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and former allies the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – which broke out in April 2023 – has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies and displacement crises.   Courage and dedication Since then, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate has documented 32 journalists’ deaths, some 556 violations against media workers and the closure of numerous newspapers and radio stations, “making Sudan one of the most dangerous countries to be a journalist,” UNESCO said. Khaled El-Enan...

  The UN briefing titled Strengthening Information Integrity: Advertising, Artificial Intelligence and the Global Information Crisis  calls on policymakers to align governance frameworks for AI and advertising with international standards on information integrity , and to work with industry and civil society to improve transparency . For advertisers, it recommends demanding greater visibility across AI supply chains , prioritizing quality media environments and using financial leverage to push platforms towards creating stronger safeguards for users and consumers . Evidence cited in the brief suggests that improving transparency in media buying can deliver double-digit gains in advertising performance – underscoring that responsible practices can also align with good business.

The brief titled Strengthening Information Integrity: Advertising, Artificial Intelligence and the Global Information Crisis highlights several growing risks . AI is accelerating the spread of disinformation , hate speech and polarising content, while advertising revenue continues to fund online material – regardless of its quality or accuracy. At the same time, a lack of transparency in how AI-driven advertising systems work is raising concerns about fraud and inefficiency. The rise of AI-generated content also threatens the viability of independent journalism , the report notes, warning that declining trust in digital environments is already undermining the effectiveness of ad campaigns . The brief stresses that these are not only societal concerns but direct business risks . As audiences lose trust in the platforms where ads appear , engagement drops and returns on investment decline. “Brands are under pressure to move fast on AI, but doing so without guardrails risks undermini...

  With spending on advertising topping $1 trillion a year worldwide , the United Nations on Wednesday highlighted the untapped power of major brands to shape the future of Artificial Intelligence , warning that a failure to act could deepen a global information integrity crisis. In a new brief titled Strengthening Information Integrity: Advertising, Artificial Intelligence and the Global Information Crisis , the Department of Global Communications and the Conscious Advertising Network caution that unchecked AI adoption in advertising is accelerating risks across the whole digital information ecosystem . The brief notes that the advertising industry sits at the centre of how information flows online , with its spending decisions influencing which content is produced, amplified and monetised . As AI tools become embedded in media buying and content generation, those dynamics are intensifying. “Advertising funds the systems that help shape what people see, trust and believe....

Organizer: Globe International Center. Event: World Press Freedom Day Commemoration in Mongolia . Date: 30 April 2026. Description: Organized by the Globe International Center in cooperation with the National Freedom of Expression Network, the celebration will bring together key stakeholders to engage in dialogue on press freedom and freedom of expression in line with the global theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace.” The event will also include the national launch of UNESCO’s World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development 2022/2025 , using its findings to inform national discussions on the draft Media Freedom Law, media pluralism, access to information, journalist safety, and the digital era challenges facing independent journalism in Mongolia. Type of meeting: In Person. Audience type: Closed meeting. Contact: Onon Batmunkh, onon.globe@gmail.com

Cambodia Event: National Conference on Press Freedom Date: 30 April 2026. Description: The Cambodia’s World Press Freedom Day 2026 underscores the shared commitment to media freedom and professionalism, while recognizing the media’s central role in promoting human rights, development, peace and social cohesion. A National Press Freedom Conference, a joint initiative of a range of media organizations, civil societies, and development partners, will bring together journalists, media professionals, online content creators, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the current challenges facing press freedom in Cambodia and explore possible solutions. Type of meeting: In person. Audience type: Closed meeting. Location: Himawari Hotel. Contact: Mr. Nop Vy, Executive Director at Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), ed@camboja.net . Mr. Sorn Sarath, Research and Advocacy Manager at Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA), sarath.sorn@camboja.net...

Organizer: UNESCO Sudan Office in partnership with MiCT. Event: Media Capacity Building Workshop for Sudanese Journalists. Date: From 22 April 2026 To 27 April 2026. Description: On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day workshop, a 4-day training workshop designed to strengthen the skills and resilience of Sudanese journalists operating in conflict-affected environments . The program focuses on countering disinformation, enhancing physical and digital safety, and introducing sustainable media business models. It also builds capacity in gender-sensitive and trauma-informed reporting, visual storytelling in crisis contexts, profession and ethical interviewing of vulnerable sources, and fostering stronger professional networks among journalists and media organizations in Port Sudan. Type of meeting: Hybrid. Audience type: Closed meeting. Location: UNESCO Sudan office in Port Sudan. Contact: Heidi Mirza, h.m.mohamed@unesco.org

The Co-Chairs of the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance, Egriselda López, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the UN and Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN, together with Amandeep Gill, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, will brief the media in Geneva. Watch the press Briefing: Global Dialogue on AI Governance! Press Conferences