AHEAD of World Press Freedom Day, journalists, editors, and media leaders gathered in Port Moresby for the PNG Media Summit, placing the region’s biggest media challenges under the spotlight.
Artificial intelligence, misinformation, election integrity, and the future of journalism in the social media age were placed under the spotlight at the event convened by the Media Council of Papua New Guinea and PNG Women in Media.
And, as technology evolves faster than regulation, the responsibility of journalism to protect truth has never been greater.
Kalafi Moala, President of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), reinforced the importance of regional solidarity, independent media, and protecting press freedom across the Pacific.
“To move forward, we must defend press freedom as a cornerstone of democracy, protect journalists, especially those working in high risk environments, promote media and digital literacy, harness AI responsibility guided by ethics and public interest as we approach world press freedom day,” Moala said.
“Through unity, we must protect our journalists, uphold truth in the age of AI, and ensure that innovation strengthens rather than silences the voices of our people.”
With Papua New Guinea preparing for national elections, mirroring a wider election cycle across parts of the Pacific, the conversation turned sharply toward factchecking, deepfakes, and disinformation.
Media Council of PNG President, Neville Choi, stresses that election reporting in the AI era demands stronger newsroom systems and sharper verification skills.
“In preparation for the elections, and to ensure the mainstream media is ready for them, we in the media have prioritized focus on factchecking and verification, investigative reporting, and building the capacities of our mainstream media newsrooms in understanding AI,” Choi said.
Under the summit theme, Press Freedom through Human Rights, Security and Innovation, one issue dominated discussions: what artificial intelligence means for the future of Pacific journalism.
Steven Matainaho, Secretary of the Papua New Guinea Department of Information and Communications Technology, unpacked the country’s National AI Framework and its implications for media, public discourse, and freedom of expression.
Matainaho highlighted that technology alone cannot solve the deeper issues society faces.
“It is not the end game, it is the enabler to solve the problem that we are trying to solve,” he said.
Using digital public infrastructure such as digital payments as an example, he pointed to how technology can improve efficiency but warned that data governance and responsible AI use must remain central to the conversation.
Also addressing journalists at the summit was Lisa Kingsberry, Director for Strategic Communication, Outreach and Engagement, at the Pacific Community (SPC), who reminded journalists of the role regional institutions play in supporting access to information and accountability.
“We are your organization, owned and function for the Pacific by Pacific, reach out for information and hold us accountable to it,” she said.
Throughout the day, the summit became more than just a discussion on technology. It became a reality check for the media industry on shrinking trust, the speed of false information, newsroom pressures, and the growing challenge of staying relevant without compromising integrity.
But amid the robust discussions, one message stood above the noise, journalism must return to its foundations.
In an age where algorithms reward speed and virality, truth still demands patience, verification, and human judgment.
AI may be a powerful tool, but it cannot replace the human instinct, accountability, and warmth that define journalism.
Because at a time when audiences need truth more than clout, the role of journalists has never mattered more.
