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By Bryan Toshi Bwana in Arusha, Tanzania
Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr Philip Mpango, has called on African nations to urgently reform media policies and regulate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), warning that the continent stands at a digital crossroads that could determine the future of journalism, democracy, and development.
Speaking at the second Pan African Media Councils Summit held in Arusha last week, Dr Mpango said Africa must reclaim its story and identity through responsible media and technology regulation, or risk having its narrative shaped by external actors.
“The media must reclaim Africa’s story with integrity, innovation, and an authentic African lens — before it is written for us by others,” Dr Mpango said during his keynote address.
The summit, organised by the Network of Independent Media Councils of Africa (NIMCA), attracted over 400 delegates from 26 African countries, including media regulators, journalists, broadcasters, government officials, and technology experts. It was the first time the gathering was held in Tanzania since NIMCA’s formation in 2024.
This year’s theme, “Advancing Media and Communication Regulations for Journalism Excellence in Africa,” reflected the urgency of adapting to new threats posed by digital misinformation, deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and a rapid decline in public trust in news.
Dr Mpango painted a grim picture of the continent’s media landscape, warning that unchecked misinformation, polarisation, and digital propaganda were eroding public confidence in journalism and weakening democratic institutions. Citing global trends, he referred to the 2024 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, which found that global trust in news had fallen to 38%, with many African countries recording levels below 30%.
He also referenced a UNESCO study that showed nearly 60% of viral political content in 10 African countries during elections was false or misleading. Financial pressure on newsrooms, he added, was compounding the crisis by pushing some outlets toward sensationalism over ethics.
“When public trust collapses, media councils and regulators lose legitimacy, and the democratic fabric of society is put at risk,” Dr Mpango warned.
To address these challenges, the Vice President outlined four priority areas for African media regulators: harnessing AI responsibly, reclaiming Africa’s narrative, investing in media and information literacy, and strengthening accountability mechanisms.
He urged African countries to develop legal frameworks that guide AI use in ways that protect journalism ethics and public access to accurate information. While acknowledging AI’s potential to enhance journalism, he cautioned against its misuse to create disinformation and manipulate public opinion.
He also called on African journalists to shift the global narrative about the continent, which he said was still largely defined by images of poverty, conflict, and instability.
“For too long, we have been portrayed through a lens of crisis. It’s time to amplify the stories of innovation, resilience, and African excellence,” he said.
In his address, Dr Mpango announced that Tanzania was finalising a new National Information Policy to replace the outdated 2003 framework, aligning it with digital realities while upholding media freedoms and ethics. He encouraged other African states to follow suit and collaborate in building African-led AI models and digital repositories of indigenous knowledge.
The summit concluded with a set of forward-looking resolutions. These included commitments to train journalists and regulators in ethical AI use, develop African-centric language models, integrate media literacy into school curricula, and expand digital infrastructure across the continent.
One resolution called for African governments to require global digital platforms to negotiate fair compensation with local news publishers, drawing on precedents like Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code and the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
As the summit closed, a Nigerian delegate summed up the sense of urgency: “The battle for Africa’s digital soul is being fought now. Either we shape the technology and narratives — or they will shape us.”
In a city known for diplomacy and conservation, Arusha this week became the launchpad for a new chapter in African media — one that seeks to blend innovation, ethics, and self-determination in the digital age.