SLIMFA MediaFest 2026 calls for trust-first journalism as AI reshapes news landscape

Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda JayatissaMass Media Deputy Minister Dr. Kaushalya AriyarathneIn an increasingly fragmented digital world, top media leaders from Sri Lanka and India said journalism's future depends less on technological innovation, than on its ability to preserve public trust, credibility and adaptation in an era dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), misinformation and rapidly changing audience habits. Sharing insights at MediaFest 2026, organised by the Sri Lanka–India Media Friendship Association (SLIMFA) at the Taj Samudra, Colombo, they insisted that in an increasingly fragmented digital world, news organisations must adapt to technological disruption without sacrificing the principles that underpin public confidence. Themed “Staying Relevant in a Changing World”, the day-long event brought together editors, journalists, media executives, academics and digital creators from both countries to examine how the profession is responding to AI, misinformation, changing audience behaviour and evolving business models. Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha described MediaFest as a growing flagship platform for professional dialogue between Indian and Sri Lankan journalists. He said the strong participation reflected a shared desire among media professionals to learn from one another, noting that the two countries' democratic traditions and close cultural ties created a natural basis for collaboration. “As two vibrant democracies, our journalists share many common challenges, from adapting to new technologies and combating misinformation to sustaining public trust and preserving editorial integrity. We can certainly benefit from sharing our experiences, which is an opportunity this platform provides us. We can also use this occasion to strengthen partnerships between our media institutions,” he added. Noting that the global media industry was undergoing one of its most significant transformations, driven by AI, digital platforms, social media and changing audience behaviour, Jha said these developments had expanded journalism's reach and storytelling possibilities, whilst elevating the importance of traditional journalistic values. “Accuracy, fairness, verification, integrity and public trust are more important today than ever before,” he said. Highlighting the strength of both countries' media ecosystems, he said Sri Lankan media had demonstrated remarkable resilience and diversity, while adapting to new technologies, while India's vast media landscape continued to evolve without abandoning democratic values. The High Commissioner pledged continued Indian support for journalist exchanges, newsroom visits, media training and institutional partnerships, describing the media as an important bridge connecting the peoples of India and Sri Lanka. “I encourage journalists in both our countries to continue building stronger professional friendships, expanding collaboration and creating platforms that promote informed, constructive and people-centric narratives about our countries. It can address most effectively the past stereotypes and false narratives that inhibits us from cooperating sometimes more meaningfully and effectively,” Jha said. Chief Guest, Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said journalism must embrace technological change without compromising editorial independence or professional ethics. He said AI and social media had transformed how news is produced and consumed, with audiences now actively participating in creating and verifying information rather than simply consuming it. Despite these changes, he stressed that the public's expectation for accurate, fair, independent and accountable journalism remained unchanged. “In today’s environment, where misinformation and disinformation can spread across the world within minutes, the responsibility of professional journalism becomes even greater. Credibility is no longer simply a professional value. It has become the greatest asset,” he said. The Minister said governments should create an environment, where independent journalism can flourish rather than dictate editorial content. He said AI should be viewed as a tool to enhance investigation, research and verification rather than replace editorial judgement. Dr. Jayatissa also encouraged greater collaboration between India and Sri Lanka, noting that India's technological advances and Sri Lanka's resilient media tradition offered valuable opportunities for mutual learning. SLIMFA President Nisthar Cassim said MediaFest is emerging as an ideal platform for journalists, editors, media executives, digital creators, corporate communication professionals, academics, and industry experts to learn from each other and network. He said that participants will immensely benefit from the knowledge sharing by both Indian and Sri Lankan resource persons who must be commended for their gesture of giving back to the media community in general. Cassim also said SLIMFA has rapidly evolved since its establishment in 2024 into a unique professional platform promoting closer engagement between the media communities of the two countries. Through discussions, editor roundtables, masterclasses and training programmes, SLIMFA has encouraged dialogue on issues shaping the industry. Delivering the keynote address on "Trust, Truth and the Battle for Credibility," Asian News International (ANI) Chief Editor and Deputy CEO Smita Prakash argued that journalism faces its defining test as AI makes deception faster, cheaper and more convincing than ever before. “Although technology and business models have transformed the production and distribution of news, ‘trust’ remains the foundation of both journalism and democracy,” she stressed. Prakash warned that algorithms increasingly shape public discourse by creating “ideological bubbles”, while AI-generated text, images and videos have “blurred” the line between truth and falsehood. She distinguished between misinformation, spread without malicious intent and disinformation, deliberately designed to manipulate public opinion, cautioning that governments, political actors, commercial interests and foreign agencies are increasingly “weaponising” digital platforms to influence societies. “Journalists must resist the pressure to prioritise speed over accuracy, even as social media rewards immediacy and outrage,” she said. She asserted that verification has become as important as reporting itself, requiring sophisticated techniques including metadata analysis, reverse image searches and geolocation. “Trust, but verify,” Prakash said, calling for greater transparency, integrity and accountability in journalism. The Asia Group Partner Ashok Malik, delivering a keynote on "Holistic Media Strategy: Straddling Television, Print and Digital," reflected on journalism's enduring role as a profession that prepares individuals for leadership across government, business, politics and public life. “Journalists can be called as truth tellers, exposing flaws in public policy and governance, and sometimes acting as a muckraker,” he said. While journalism often serves as a means of exposing corruption and holding institutions accountable, he said it also provides a pathway to engage in policy-making and public service. “Journalists enter the profession for different reasons, with some driven by a desire to become truth tellers, who expose flaws in public policy, governance and business, while others see journalism as a pathway to shaping public policy itself,” he added. Malik also observed that the growing convergence of politics, entertainment and digital media makes it even more important for journalists to uphold truth and accountability. India Today Managing Editor Marya Shakil, speaking on "The Audience Shift: From Readers to Viewers, From Media to Personalities," said audience behaviour has fundamentally changed, with news consumption shifting "from the page to the feed," requiring journalism to adapt without compromising verification. "Trust remains journalism's rarest asset. It must be made visible, not merely assumed," she said, calling newsrooms to combine the speed and creativity of digital content creators with the discipline of professional journalism. "Borrow the creator's speed, but never surrender the newsroom's discipline," she said, adding that India and Southeast Asia were "not the future's rehearsal; they are its opening night." Across the three panel discussions, speakers agreed that while AI and digital platforms are permanently reshaping journalism, continued relevance will depend on its ability to uphold credibility, defend editorial independence, embrace responsible innovation, financial sustainability and restore public trust in an increasingly fragmented information environment. The Festival via panel discussions featured a host of media industry professionals including SLIMFA President and Daily FT Editor-in-Chief and CEO Nisthar Cassim, Centre for Investigative Reporting (CIR), Sri Lanka Director Dilrukshi Handuneththi, AFP Sri Lanka Head Amal Jayasinghe, Daily Mirror Editor-in-Chief Jamila Husain, Newswire Editor Kalani Kumarasinghe, Neon Consultant Editor Indika Sakalasooriya, Pulse Digital Editor Vimukthi Karunaratne, Virakesari Assistant Editor Robert Anthony, Ada Derana English Senior Journalist Mahieash Johnney, Advocata Institute CEO Dhananath Fernando, Centre for Law And Security Studies Director Nilanthan Niruthan, Verité Research Media Research Team Head Deepanjalie Abeywardana, and Liberal Youth Movement Founder and Convener Namini Panditha. Sponsors of the Festival are Commercial Bank PLC, Mahindra Ideal Finance, CWIT, Sri Lankan Airlines, Taj Samudra Colombo and CMN.

SLIMFA MediaFest 2026 calls for trust-first journalism as AI reshapes news landscape | Daily FT