Press freedom, technology and AI, conflict coverage, and international collaboration – topics discussed at the iMEdD International Journalism Forum
With over 1,000 participants, 119 speakers from 34 countries, and 47 panels, workshops, and keynotes, the iMEdD International Journalism Forum 2025 was the focal point for global dialogue on the future of journalism over three days.
“Is anyone out there listening, or are we talking to ourselves?”, wondered Anna Kynthia Bousdoukou, iMEdD Co-founder and Managing Director, opening the event by addressing the issue of news avoidance among the public. Justin Arenstein, Founder and Chief Strategist at Code for Africa and Co-CEO at ICFJ+, emphasized the need to redefine the role of journalism in an uncertain world, saying: “We need to be the sense-makers, not just storytellers.”
During this year’s event, which took place from September 25-27, journalists, media professionals, academics, and students discussed the role of artificial intelligence in journalism and the ethical dilemmas it raises, the importance of cross-border collaboration in areas such as organized crime, health, and technology, the need for journalists to embrace new technologies and tools to address critical issues like the climate crisis, and ways to empower journalists to fight professional burnout. Furthermore, journalists and experts who have worked in conflict zones like Gaza shared their testimonies, highlighting the selflessness and bravery of colleagues who are persecuted and targeted simply because of their profession.
Discussions around artificial intelligence took center stage in many sessions, with Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of RSF USA, stating that new technologies offer the opportunity to tell stories were never possible to tell before. This conversation also highlighted the ethical and practical challenges of using technology in journalism.
The Forum also tackled more challenging aspects of journalism, such as war and organized crime coverage. Alaa Salama, Audience Engagement Manager at +972 Magazine, described how, with international media blocked from Gaza, the responsibility of telling the truth rests entirely on Palestinian journalists.
Discussions on the "Greek Mafia" and the train accident in Tempi attracted significant interest, confirming that these issues, beyond their national context, are part of a broader international reality and highlight the role and responsibility of journalists. Yannis Souliotis, journalist at Kathimerini, emphasized the heavy responsibility of journalists investigating corruption and crime, saying: “You’re not invisible in these cases. You’re involved. You’ve provided information. That’s a crucial red line. Otherwise, you’re shooting yourself in the foot.”
Collaboration — a recurring theme throughout the Forum — emerged as a key condition for producing meaningful journalism.
As Emilia Diaz-Struck, Executive Director of the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), put it: “It is about leaving the egos out of the door and bringing together a team.”
As part of iMEdD's collaboration with Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU), the Forum also hosted the UNCOVERED Conference and the IJ4EU Impact Awards. The awards, which highlight the importance of cross-border investigative journalism, were presented to the investigations Deadly Prices, which exposes the opaque drug pricing system in Europe; The Gaza Project, a collaboration of over 40 journalists investigating attacks on journalists in Gaza; and Desert Dumps, which documents Europe’s involvement in anti-migrant operations in North Africa. A special mention was given to an investigation revealing the role of European funding in suppressing democratic protests in Senegal. Additionally, the Forum hosted the European Press Prize (EPP Peers Meeting), the Arena/Reference Circle journalism organization meetings, and the editorial meeting of the European Data Journalism Network (EDJNet).
At the Forum’s Media Village, which became an important networking hub, 19 international organizations showcased their work and strengthened connections between journalists and organizations from around the world.
This year’s event also welcomed 25 students and 13 professors from 13 universities across six countries in Europe, America, and Asia, who had the opportunity to exchange ideas and present their vision for the future of journalism. In the final session, they asked experts questions on conflict coverage, mental health protection, dealing with legal threats to press freedom, engaging younger audiences via social media, and adapting to the growing influence of technology.
For more information and session content, visit forum.imedd.org or the iMEdD YouTube channel.
