The initiative comes “at a time when securing the sustainability of news media is more urgent than ever to protect the future of journalism and safeguard information integrity,” the agency stated.
A draft text under consultation highlights significant disruptions in the media landscape. These include reduced funding for public-interest journalism, the contraction or closure of local and community news organizations, and other challenges that signify “a fundamental and ongoing change in the structure of the information economy.”
Dominant Digital Players and Their Influence
“A small number of large, multinational digital platforms and AI actors now occupy a central intermediary role between media and the public. They shape content discovery, influence the conditions through which journalism reaches audiences, and mediate access to digital advertising markets in ways that have materially altered the economic conditions in which journalism operates,” the document notes.
UNESCO is soliciting feedback from governments, regulatory authorities, media organizations, civil society, academia, and other stakeholders until July 30. Responses can be submitted via an online survey, allowing participants to share their input on how the document can be enhanced to support freedom of expression, strengthen media viability, and bolster the future of independent journalism amidst the rise of digital platforms and AI actors.
Submissions are accepted in English, French, or Spanish. In anticipation of the deadline, three online regional roundtables will be organized to foster dialogue and gather input from participants in Asia-Pacific and the Arab States, Africa and Europe, and the Americas and the Caribbean.
Championing Media Diversity and Sustainability
This draft guidance builds upon UNESCO’s 2023 Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, which advocate for the support of media sustainability, diversity, and pluralism. It also incorporates insights from the agency’s work on generative AI governance, human rights impact assessments, and global principles promoting fair compensation for journalism.
The initiative further underscores UNESCO’s broader commitment to reinforcing media independence, sustainability, and viability. The final draft of the Guidance, along with a report summarizing key insights and contributions, is scheduled for publication later this year.
