Accra, Ghana, November 3, 2026: African journalist leaders have adopted a continental action plan to promote responsible artificial intelligence (AI), improve working conditions and protect media freedom as newsrooms respond to rapid technological change.
The plan followed a two-day dialogue and capacity-building programme organised by the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 24 and 25 October. It brought together journalist leaders and representatives of the African Union Commission, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Union.
The meeting, held under the theme Advancing Responsible Artificial Intelligence and Decent Work for Quality Journalism in Africa, examined how AI is changing news production and the conditions under which journalists work.
Participants identified opportunities to use AI for research, translation and information verification. They also raised concerns about fabricated content, the impersonation of trusted sources and the speed at which misleading information can spread.
They called for journalists and media organisations to retain human judgement and editorial oversight when using automated tools.
Working conditions remain a central concern
The discussions also addressed the possibility that media organisations could use AI-driven automation and cost-cutting to reduce newsroom staffing.
Participants warned that this could worsen existing employment challenges, including low or delayed salaries, insecure jobs, the absence of formal contracts and inadequate social protection.
The meeting drew on a new FAJ survey of 1,586 journalists across 45 African countries. The report examines working conditions, labour rights, safety and media freedom, providing evidence for advocacy with media owners, governments and regional institutions.
The survey found that 61 per cent of respondents said their income from journalism did not meet their basic living needs. Only four per cent said their salaries adequately covered essential costs. It also found that 62 per cent worked without written contracts.
The report cautions that its findings are indicative of wider patterns and experiences rather than statistically representative measurements of every country or journalist on the continent.
Women journalists face additional risks
The dialogue also considered the safety of journalists, including online harassment and digital violence targeting women journalists.
More than three-quarters of respondents to the FAJ survey believed women journalists faced additional risks in the media sector. These included sexual harassment, online gender-based violence, unequal pay and exclusion from leadership positions.
FAJ President Omar Faruk Osman said AI adoption, decent working conditions and media freedom were closely connected. He argued that technology should support journalists’ work and complement human judgement rather than deepen the insecurity many already face.
The programme was funded by the ILO, the European Union and UNESCO through UNESCO’s Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists.
Under the adopted action plan, FAJ and its affiliated organisations intend to work with the African Union, regional economic communities, UN agencies, organised labour and human rights organisations to advance responsible AI, decent work and media freedom.
The plan sets out a continental direction. Its impact will depend on whether media employers, governments and journalists’ organisations translate those commitments into workplace policies, stronger labour protections and practical safeguards for independent reporting.
