The Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA) held the 9th Executive Committee meeting on Thursday October 3, 2024 in Abidjan, in the presence of Côte d'Ivoire’s Minister of Communication, Media and Francophonie, and Government Spokesperson, Amadou Coulibaly.
The opening session, themed "African News Agencies: What Strategies to Adopt in the Face of Artificial Intelligence?" featured key participants, including FAAPA President and Director General of the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP), Fouad Arif; Morocco’s Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire, Abdelmalek Kettani; FAAPA Vice-President and Central Director of the Ivorian Press Agency (AIP), Oumou Barry Sana; and the Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), Kiril Valchev, who was invited by the AIP.
Members of FAAPA’s Executive Council, media professionals, and other notable figures were also present at the event.
In his keynote address, Minister Coulibaly emphasized that FAAPA, as an "integrative" and "unifying" force for meaningful technical cooperation, should play a vital role in promoting a news dissemination system that aligns with the aspirations of African nations. He also highlighted the importance of fostering a network of African press agencies capable of competing with the world’s leading agencies.
Reflecting on the impact of the digital revolution, which has sometimes led to behavior conflicting with journalistic ethics, Coulibaly raised questions about how press agencies can remain vigilant and adapt to the new digital challenges in this era.
The minister pointed out that artificial intelligence (AI) offers major opportunities to transform news production and dissemination. AI, he said, can accelerate data processing and automate content generation while also allowing agencies to analyze trends and anticipate the public’s information needs.
However, Coulibaly underscored the need to approach AI with care and responsibility to ensure that press agencies retain their editorial independence and uphold professional standards amid this technological shift.
FAAPA Vice-President and AIP Central Director, Oumou Barry Sana, also addressed the gathering, stressing the importance of reflecting on the rapid pace of information flow due to new technologies. She emphasized the need for journalists at news agencies to consider how these changes affect their roles and responsibilities.
She highlighted that combating misinformation is now a crucial fight for authenticity and credibility, urging FAAPA members to find effective strategies to confront these challenges.
Barry further emphasized the importance of training in investigative journalism and the need for rigorous fact-checking. She suggested that initiatives like fact-checking platforms and data analysis tools should become central to verifying information before its release.
She also called on FAAPA’s Executive Council members to strive to make the organization a "global benchmark" for quality journalism and work towards building an Africa where accurate, reliable information serves everyone.
During his speech, FAAPA President Fouad Arif expressed his delight at holding the meeting in Abidjan, marking the second time in seven years that Côte d'Ivoire has hosted this pan-African event.
He noted that this meeting represents a key milestone in strengthening professional ties between African press agencies, underscoring the importance that HM King Mohammed VI places on South-South cooperation.
Arif highlighted that this cooperation, driven by a shared vision and coordinated actions, is essential for ensuring the sustainable development of African press agencies and contributing to the continent’s media sovereignty in the digital and AI era.
"I am confident that our collective willpower is creating the right conditions to breathe new life into this South-South cooperation, paving the way for the structural transformation of African press agencies through innovation and development," Arif said.
He went on to stress that African press agencies must fully embrace their role and develop new strategies to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology, making themselves more competitive in terms of performance and strategic decision-making.
Founded on October 14, 2014, FAAPA’s mission is to build strategic partnerships and strengthen professional ties among press agencies. It also aims to promote the free flow of information and enhance cooperation at both regional and international levels.
