{"id":18468,"date":"2025-04-16T13:38:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T13:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/?post_type=news&#038;p=18468"},"modified":"2025-05-14T12:52:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T12:52:07","slug":"media-viability-in-the-age-of-ai","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/news\/media-viability-in-the-age-of-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Media Viability in the Age of AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">SUMMARY<br><br>What does media viability really mean when artificial intelligence, shrinking funding, and platform monopolies all collide? And how can we protect journalism in today\u2019s most fragile contexts?&nbsp;<br><br>At the International Journalism Festival 2025, RNW Media hosted a side event: <em>\u201cSustaining journalism: A fresh take on media viability in the era of AI<\/em>&#8220;, moderated by Media Innovation Director<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/leimaholland\/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_company_admin%3BPM9%2B3cUsRB2E9DJGjxRmKw%3D%3D\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/leimaholland\/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_company_admin%3BPM9%2B3cUsRB2E9DJGjxRmKw%3D%3D\">Lei Ma<\/a><\/strong>.<strong> <\/strong>We invited bold thinkers to explore these urgent questions and uncover new ideas for action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Watch the recorded session <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Sustaining Journalism \u2013 A Fresh Take on Media Viability in the Era of AI - RNW Media at IJF 2025\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/72NiP7WNYH4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Putting the audience first<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nl.linkedin.com\/in\/woutervantongeren\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Wouter van Tongeren<\/strong><\/a>, CEO of RNW Media, CEO of RNW Media, opened the event by questioning traditional broadcasting models. His message was simple: media must grow with its audience, not the other way around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RNW Media\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/about-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shift from shortwave radio<\/a> to digital-first platforms in places like Yemen, Nigeria, and Mexico wasn\u2019t just about tech. It was about trust. \u201cWe follow the audience,\u201d said Tongeren. \u201cWhether it\u2019s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, we ask: what do they need to know and how do they want to receive it?\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This people-first approach now fuels three areas of focus in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/news\/new-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RNW Media&#8217;s new strategy<\/a>: supporting media partners, building a global network of changemakers through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/our-community\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Vine<\/a> community, and advocating for fairer digital ecosystems that hold Big Tech accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>AI, power and the battle over information<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.journalismliberty.org\/courtney-c-radsch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Dr Courtney C. Radsch<\/strong><\/a>, director of the Center for Journalism and Liberty at the Open Markets Institute, offered a sobering view of how media freedom is under pressure in the United States and why that matters globally in her keynote speech.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/16\/business\/voa-trump-dismantle.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">weakening of Voice of America<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editorandpublisher.com\/stories\/fighting-for-fairness-how-omi-is-defending-journalism-against-big-tech,253630\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Big Tech\u2019s unchecked influence over data and content<\/a>, Dr Radsch argued that AI is no longer just a tool: it\u2019s a political weapon. \u201cWe&#8217;re seeing U.S. tech firms shaping AI in ways that embed ideology and erase diversity,\u201d she warned. \u201cAnd that\u2019s not just affecting media in the U.S. \u2013 it\u2019s influencing journalism worldwide.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her call to action, Dr Radsch said media must take charge by blocking AI bots, documenting where their content is being reused, and joining licensing schemes that demand fair compensation for journalistic work. \u201cAI doesn\u2019t learn \u2013 it copies,\u201d she reminded the audience. \u201cWe need to stop treating it like a neutral observer.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What if media viability already exists, just not where we\u2019re looking?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uu.nl\/staff\/BMutsvairo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Bruce Mutsvairo<\/strong><\/a>, Professor and Chair of Media, Politics &amp; the Global South&nbsp;at Utrecht University, turned the spotlight on the Global South, not as a region in crisis, but as a source of insight. \u201cJournalism didn\u2019t die in the Global South. It adapted.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In many countries, journalists are surviving with limited resources all while doing critical work. From freelance mechanics in Sub-Saharan Africa who run Facebook news pages to Malian journalists crowdfunding to push back against foreign propaganda, resilience is real.&nbsp;Professor Mutsvairo called on global media leaders to rethink what viability really looks like and to stop relying on outdated models from the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLet\u2019s learn from those working with less because they\u2019ve been surviving the collapse of media systems long before it became a global crisis.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/C51BDA15-6E45-4A4B-AC09-8252E132A5AA-1024x684.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/C51BDA15-6E45-4A4B-AC09-8252E132A5AA-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/C51BDA15-6E45-4A4B-AC09-8252E132A5AA-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/C51BDA15-6E45-4A4B-AC09-8252E132A5AA-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/C51BDA15-6E45-4A4B-AC09-8252E132A5AA-1536x1027.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/C51BDA15-6E45-4A4B-AC09-8252E132A5AA-2048x1369.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Enjoying conversation in between sessions in Perugia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What does media viability mean to journalists on the ground?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sana-naqvi-6a1895112\/?originalSubdomain=nl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Sana Naqvi<\/strong><\/a>, Team Lead Impact of RNW Media, shared preliminary research findings from 124 media partners across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. From these initial findings, key ideas stood out: media viability isn\u2019t about follower counts or flashy tech: it\u2019s about trust and connection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many, viability starts with language. Publishing in local languages builds lasting relationships with audiences \u2013 but funders often expect content in English. Translation takes time and money, and without it, vital voices risk going unheard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Funding also comes with trade-offs. Partners described how donor themes and tight timelines can push them away from urgent, community-driven stories, sometimes leading to self-censorship.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AI is both a tool and a risk. While it helps some personalise content and analyse trends, others saw their work flagged or suppressed, especially when published in Arabic or indigenous languages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Naqvi put it: \u201cMedia viability is not just a structural or financial problem. It\u2019s a people problem. And the solutions must be people-led.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A shared language for media support&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To close the session, <a href=\"https:\/\/de.linkedin.com\/in\/dr-laura-moore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Dr Laura Moore,<\/strong><\/a> Deputy Head of Policy and Learning at DW Akademie, introduced the <a href=\"https:\/\/akademie.dw.com\/en\/the-media-viability-manifesto\/a-70419932\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Media Viability Manifesto<\/em><\/a>, co-developed by 13 international organisations. The manifest&#8217;s vision is to&nbsp;promote a shared understanding of what media viability really is and what it takes for efforts to become joint.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cViability, sustainability, resilience\u2026 we throw around a lot of terms,\u201d Dr Moore said. \u201cBut donors, implementers, and journalists need a shared strategy, not just a shared vocabulary.\u201d&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>The manifesto aims to create that common foundation without erasing nuance or context.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>So, what\u2019s next?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What remains clear from our session is that media viability isn\u2019t a fixed goal. It\u2019s a moving target that shifts with context, politics, and technology adaptation. In fact, sustainability of journalism depends on bold, equitable and collaborative work. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that starts with asking the right questions:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What if <em>local knowledge<\/em> led global innovation?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&nbsp;What if <em>trust<\/em> was our key metric for success?&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What if journalism could drive <em>tech accountability and help reshape policy?<\/em>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><br>RNW Media thanks our lineup of speakers for their participation in this event!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">If you are interested in taking part in the Media Viability research conducted by RNW Media. Get in touch with our Impact Lead, Sana Naqvi at sana.naqvi@rnw.org&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does media viability really mean in an age of AI, shrinking funds, and platform power? At the International Journalism Festival 2025, RNW Media explored this question in our side event, \u201cSustaining journalism: A fresh take on media viability in the era of AI.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":18469,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"tags":[46,41,44],"class_list":["post-18468","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ethical-technology","tag-information-integrity","tag-media-viability"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/18468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18468"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rnw.media\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}