Vatican City: Vatican Radio participates in journalism summit hosted by the European Broadcasting Union.

In a world growing increasingly polarized, where is journalism headed? What role does public service media play in a fragmented information landscape? And is artificial intelligence (AI) a game-changer or a potential pitfall for media professionals?

These pressing questions were at the heart of discussions among over 100 journalists who convened in Vilnius, Lithuania, from November 20 to 22 for the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) News Assembly. Vatican Radio was represented by Alessandro Gisotti, Deputy Editorial Director of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication.

The two-day event delved into issues ranging from editorial independence to strategies for engaging younger audiences, who are increasingly gravitating away from traditional media. Sessions also explored the transformative potential of digital technologies, with a particular focus on AI's opportunities and challenges.

The conference began with opening remarks by Eric Scherer, Chair of the EBU News Committee, and Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė, Director General of Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT. Both underscored the critical role of free and independent journalism, a message made even more poignant by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Lithuania’s proximity to the conflict zone lent added urgency to the discussions.

The war, now tragically in its third year following Russia’s invasion, featured prominently in a panel discussion that emphasized the indispensable role of public service media in countering misinformation and propaganda. Journalists and experts highlighted the importance of delivering credible reporting amidst a deluge of fake news.

A significant focus of the assembly was AI’s growing influence in journalism. A workshop led by digital experts and private-sector professionals introduced tools for detecting AI-generated content and strategies for integrating AI effectively into newsrooms.

Debates addressed challenges such as algorithm-driven content curation, particularly in political contexts, copyright concerns linked to platforms like ChatGPT, and the competitive pressures facing public media from emerging technologies.

Gisotti voiced concerns about the widening “digital divide,” cautioning that wealthier nations and major media organizations are better equipped to harness AI technologies, leaving resource-constrained countries at a disadvantage.

The summit concluded with the Gunnar Høidahl Journalism Award, which was presented to Dutch public broadcaster NOS. The jury praised NOS for its robust commitment to journalism, diverse content offerings, and consistently high-quality reporting.