An ABU Perspective: World Press Freedom Day. Trust Is the New Battleground

As the global community marks World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, the media industry finds itself at a critical inflection point. Across the world, journalists continue to report under increasingly complex and dangerous conditions, while navigating a rapidly evolving information landscape shaped by technology and shifting audience expectations.

At the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), we emphasise that the industry must remain grounded in its core principles despite rapid change. Technology will continue to evolve, but the fundamentals of journalism must not. Accuracy, fairness and responsibility are what set credible media apart. In a world where information is abundant but trust is scarce, the role of trusted media has never been more critical.

The role of journalism remains fundamental to inform, educate and promote social cohesion, while serving as a platform for diversity, dialogue, and human rights. However, this role cannot be fulfilled without ensuring the safety and security of media professionals. Protecting journalists, both physically and digitally, is essential to preserving independent, credible, and public-interest reporting.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 17 journalists have been killed since January 2026, including six in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, nine in Lebanon, and one each in Syria and Iran. In addition, 331 journalists are currently detained worldwide, underscoring the persistent risks faced by those working to ensure the public has access to verified and unbiased information.

Today, press freedom is no longer defined solely by the ability to report. It is increasingly shaped by trust, credibility, and resilience in an environment where misinformation, disinformation, and synthetic content are becoming more pervasive. In this context, safeguarding media workers is not only a matter of protection, it is a prerequisite for maintaining the integrity of journalism itself.

Across the Asia-Pacific, broadcasters are confronting these challenges head-on. Artificial intelligence is transforming how content is created, distributed and consumed, bringing both opportunity and risk. While it enables greater efficiency and innovation, it also raises critical concerns around accuracy, authenticity and accountability. For broadcasters, the challenge is twofold: to protect the freedom to report while safeguarding the integrity of the content being delivered. In an era of competing narratives, trust has become the defining currency of journalism.

The World Broadcasting Unions (WBU) has called on media organisations and technology platforms to uphold news integrity in the age of AI, urging stronger commitments to accuracy, attribution, transparency, and the responsible use of content. The WBU also supports the five principles for the responsible use of news in AI, developed in collaboration with industry partners to safeguard the value and credibility of journalism.

As a member of the WBU, the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) supports this position and reiterates that, for ABU and its Members, this represents a clear priority: to strengthen editorial standards, invest in verification and fact-checking, and uphold the principles that underpin responsible and trusted journalism.

Because in today's media landscape, press freedom is not just about being heard. It is about being believed.