Finale of AWiM24’s ”Media and Sustainability” Conference in Dakar, Senegal

As the event winds down  on December 6, 2024, conversations around ‘repositioning the media ecosystem to tackle the challenges of digitisation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability,  took centre stage, featuring professionals from around the world and Africa in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal.
In her remarks, Dr. Yemi, appealed to the participants, who included academics, media practitioners, and communication enthusiasts, to use the opportunity for networking and new space for thinking. She also noted that when we use Artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance our work; ” It should remain a tool for work and not an entity that takes over”

Also speaking during the conference, Molwazi Tusini, the program director for the Media Development Trust Fund, said the future of democracy and critical discourse depends on the resilience and sustainability of independent public interest media.

Also part of the discussions during the conference, Agneta Soderberg Jacobson, a gender expert, said if an individual is gender sensitive with an intersectional perspective, one needs to understand that all these ideals are part of a successful media.

Gail Jammy, moderated a session on the Kigali Declaration: Commitments for Sustainable Change by FOJO and AWIM representatives. Additionally, Nelly Kalu of the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ) facilitated a session on the ‘Metaverse product and Sustainable Journalism.’ Participants were engaged in rigorous conversations around sustainability, AI and policy making.

Other panel sessions that were conducted during the conference include viability media business models, media markets, women-led success stories by DW Akademie, and Africa Media Sustainability: Gender Equity Fix by Big Cabal.

The intriguing sessions ended with a conference gala and dinner at Dakar, leaving the participants enthusiastic with innovative solutions they can implement to ensure the sustainability of their media organisations.

The gala was filled with so much fun, glitz and glamour. Here is a clip for your viewing pleasure!