The UN cultural agency UNESCO said the initiative aims to address growing concerns about the sustainability of news media, as platforms and AI systems increasingly rely on journalistic content without clear compensation mechanisms.
The draft guidance highlights structural changes in the global information economy, including declining funding for public-interest journalism and the closure of local and community news organisations.
UNESCO said these trends point to “a fundamental and ongoing change” in how news is produced, distributed and monetised.
The agency noted that a small number of large digital platforms and AI companies now play a dominant role in shaping how audiences access news. “These actors occupy a central intermediary role between media and the public,” UNESCO said.
UNESCO warned that this influence extends to digital advertising markets and content visibility, significantly altering the economic conditions under which journalism operates.
To address these challenges, UNESCO is inviting input from governments, regulators, media organisations, civil society and academia through a consultation process open until July 30.
Participants can submit feedback via an online survey, with contributions accepted in English, French and Spanish.
The consultation will also include regional roundtables in Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Arab States, and the Americas to gather broader perspectives.
UNESCO said the guidance aims to “safeguard freedom of expression, strengthen media viability and support independent journalism” in an increasingly digital and AI-driven environment.
The draft builds on UNESCO’s 2023 Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, which emphasise media diversity, sustainability and pluralism.
The initiative is also linked to the agency’s broader work on AI governance and human rights, including efforts to ensure technology development aligns with global standards on information integrity.
UNESCO said the final version of the guidance will be published later this year, alongside a report summarising stakeholder input.
The agency said the consultation represents a key step in addressing the financial challenges facing journalism, while ensuring that media organisations remain viable in a rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
