During the Second Pan-African Media Councils Summit (NIMCA Summit 2025) held on July 15, 2025, in Arusha, Tanzania, media stakeholders from across the continent gathered to chart the future of journalism in Africa. The summit, convened by the Network of Independent Media Councils of Africa (NIMCA) in partnership with the East Africa Press Councils (EAPC), saw the adoption of key resolutions, the election of a new EAPC leadership team, and the launch of a major media research project.
As part of the East Africa Press Councils’ Annual General Meeting, a new leadership was elected for the 2025–2027 term:
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Chairperson: David Omwoyo Omwoyo – Media Council of Kenya
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Vice Chairperson: Ernest Sungura – Media Council of Tanzania
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Secretary: Peter Okello Jabweli – Media Council of Uganda
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Treasurer: Habiba Alasow Mohamud – Federation of Somali Journalists
“We have a responsibility to safeguard press freedom, uphold journalism ethics, and work together to grow this profession for future generations,” said David Omwoyo following his election.
In the conference resolutions, AI and digital transformation took center stage. Participants called for African newsrooms to develop ethical guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and emphasized the need to treat AI as a collaborative partner in journalism rather than a threat.
“We must view AI as an ally. It can enhance our storytelling, boost efficiency, and improve how we serve the public,” said a delegate from Rwanda.
The summit also underscored the need to train journalists on ethical AI use and to revise media policies to be more inclusive of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other marginalized groups—both in newsroom structures and storytelling.
On the role of governments and policy, participants urged African states to develop national AI strategies, integrate digital technologies into school curricula, and invest in innovation hubs tailored to African needs.
“We must build African-centric AI solutions, including Large Language Models that support our indigenous languages and reflect our cultural realities,” a delegate from Ethiopia noted.
Further, the resolutions emphasized the need for governments to improve digital and media literacy across populations, create fair frameworks for digital platforms to work with news publishers, and ensure that Access to Information (ATI) and Freedom of Expression (FoE) rights also accommodate PWDs and marginalized communities.
Another key resolution called for the preservation of African media heritage. Participants recommended the digitization of indigenous knowledge and the establishment of journalism museums in each country. NIMCA was tasked with creating a shared complaints database among media councils and monitoring the implementation of inclusive policies in media institutions.
Media training institutions and universities were also urged to update teaching models to align with emerging technologies. “We need to promote critical thinking, creativity, and ethical engagement with AI in journalism education,” said a representative from Makerere University.
Perhaps one of the most significant outcomes of the summit was the announcement of the East Africa Media Outlook Survey 2025 – a landmark research project aimed at assessing the state of the media in the region. The survey will examine press freedom, media sustainability, working conditions for journalists, and regulatory frameworks.
“We need credible data to help us develop informed policies and respond effectively to the real challenges facing journalism in East Africa,” said Ernest Sungura.
In summary, the 2025 NIMCA Summit marked a turning point for African journalism, setting a forward-looking agenda that embraces ethics, innovation, inclusivity, and heritage. The resolutions adopted reaffirmed the continent’s commitment to shaping a resilient, locally grounded, and technologically empowered media future.
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