Nairobi will host the first Pan-African Media Summit on Information Integrity and Sustainability from May 13 to 14, bringing together journalists, editors, media stakeholders and scholars from more than 20 countries across the continent.
The summit is being organised by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) in partnership with the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG), the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) and the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK), in what organisers describe as a continental effort to strengthen journalism and media systems in Africa.
According to a joint press release issued in Nairobi on April 16, the summit aims to provide a platform for dialogue on the evolving media landscape, including emerging opportunities, structural challenges, and the future of journalism on the continent.
“It is all systems go for the first Pan-African Media Summit, coming to Nairobi from 13 to 14 May 2026,” the organisers said, noting that the event will bring together a broad cross-section of industry players to examine the state of media in Africa.
The summit comes at a time when the media industry is undergoing rapid transformation driven by technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence and digital platforms, as well as shifting audience consumption patterns.
“These shifts bring exciting opportunities, but they have also fuelled the spread of misinformation and put real pressure on traditional media business models,” the organisers said.
Across Africa, media organisations are grappling with declining revenues, rising operational costs, and increased political and market pressures, factors that stakeholders say are straining independent journalism and undermining public trust.
“Independent journalism is under strain, and that has consequences for public trust, access to information and democracy itself,” the statement noted.
The summit will be held under the theme “Information Integrity, Digital Platforms and Media in Africa,” with participants expected to focus on practical solutions to strengthen media viability, safeguard information integrity, and uphold professional and ethical standards.
Organisers say the discussions are expected to generate policy proposals and recommendations aimed at helping governments, regulators and industry players adapt to the fast-changing media environment.
“The meeting is expected to produce concrete recommendations and policy proposals to help governments, regulators and industry players keep pace with a rapidly changing media landscape,” the statement said.
International participation is also expected, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) set to attend as a knowledge partner, contributing expertise on information integrity and governance.
Regional and global perspectives will further be enriched by the participation of the East Africa Press Councils (EAPC) and the World Association of Press Councils (WAPC).
Organisers emphasised that the summit represents a timely opportunity to shape the future of journalism in Africa while reinforcing its core role in society.
“A free, independent and sustainable media is at the heart of any healthy democracy,” the statement read.
“This summit is a timely opportunity to shape bold, practical approaches that secure the future of journalism while keeping its core purpose intact—informing the public and holding power to account.”
The outcomes of the summit are expected to contribute to building resilient, independent and accountable media systems across Africa, as stakeholders seek to navigate an increasingly complex information ecosystem.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google