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AI and Press Freedom in Southeast Asia: Navigating the Promise and Peril for Independent Newsrooms
Explore how AI reshapes South-East Asia’s newsrooms amid economic and ethical challenges. Join experts discussing its impact on press freedom and media sustainability.
Artificial Intelligence, Press Freedom, and the Media: Impact on South-East Asia’s Newsrooms
Date & Time: 2 May 2025, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Bangkok, Thailand (Hybrid event)
Media outlets across South-East Asia face growing challenges. Economic pressures, surveillance of journalists, and the spread of disinformation strain newsrooms, especially small and independent ones. Survival here is a daily challenge.
Artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as both a potential solution and risk. Could AI tools help these outlets cut costs, improve efficiency, and amplify voices often left unheard? Or might AI widen existing gaps by reinforcing bias and displacing journalists?
In recognition of World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO Bangkok and the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand are organizing a panel discussion with journalists, media experts, and technologists. The event will explore AI’s expanding role in newsrooms across the region and beyond.
Key Questions Addressed
- How are newsrooms currently using AI, and what obstacles do they face?
- Can AI support independent journalism and minority media?
- What ethical and editorial challenges come with automated content?
- How can AI be used to strengthen press freedom?
Event Details
Date / Time: Friday, 2 May 2025, 19:00 – 21:00 (Bangkok, GMT+7)
Venue: Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand
Maneeya Center Building P floor, 518/5 Phloen Chit Road,
Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
The event will be held in a hybrid format with Thai-English interpretation provided on-site. It will also be livestreamed in English on the FCCT Facebook page and in Thai on the FCCT YouTube channel.
Provisional Agenda
- Introduction: Joseph Hincks, Communication and Information Unit, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
- Panel Discussion:
- Charlie Beckett, founding director of Polis and JournalismAI Project, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- Pijitra Suppasawatgul, researcher, Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University
- Mike Raomanachai, media trainer and vice-president for Southeast Asia, Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)-Asia
- Nattha Komolvadhin, news director, THE STANDARD
- Moderator: Francesca Regalado, journalist
Speakers
Professor Charlie Beckett
Charlie Beckett leads Polis, a think-tank at LSE focused on journalism and society. He directs the JournalismAI Project and was Lead Commissioner for LSE’s Truth, Trust & Technology Commission. With a background as a TV news editor and producer, Charlie writes and comments regularly on journalism’s changing role globally. His books include SuperMedia: Saving Journalism So It Can Save The World and WikiLeaks: News In The Networked Era. His work covers the intersection of journalism, emotions, AI, and politics.
Assoc Prof Pijitra Suppasawatgul
An expert at Chulalongkorn University’s Institute of Asian Studies, Pijitra focuses on digital literacy and media disruption. She supports Facebook’s ‘We Think Digital’ project and advises the ANNIE Lab at Hong Kong University. Pijitra is a National Consultant for SheTrade, a UN and EU initiative, and has received national awards for her research on hate speech. Her recent work explores OTT media regulation and misinformation in Asia. She also founded ‘Local Cube,’ a media incubator enhancing local journalism skills.
Mike Raomanachai
Mike is a media trainer with extensive experience in digital tools, safety, and verification. Since 2019, he has trained over a thousand journalists and hundreds of newsrooms across Thailand and South-East Asia. Previously a business and technology news anchor, Mike combines practical newsroom experience with training expertise.
Dr Nattha Komolvadhin
With over 17 years in journalism, Nattha is News Director at THE STANDARD. She has held senior roles at Thai PBS and conducted exclusive interviews with global leaders. Holding a PhD in Gender Studies and an MSc in Sociology from LSE, Nattha is passionate about the ethical use of AI and digital innovation in journalism to uphold quality reporting.
Registration and Contact
RSVP is required for on-site attendance. Email info@fccthai.com or call +66-02-652-0580.
For more details, contact the Communication and Information Unit at ci.bgk@unesco.org.
This event highlights critical discussions on AI’s role in press freedom and media sustainability in South-East Asia. For professionals in PR and Communications, understanding these dynamics is key to engaging with media partners and adapting strategies in a shifting news environment.