How media preserve trust in times of intensified disinformation, the development of artificial intelligence, pressure from digital platforms, and war – these issues were discussed at the 19th Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum 2026. The international forum was attended by Dmytro Kardash, Deputy Director of the Directorate – Head of the Strategic Development and Project Work Department of the National Council.
The Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum is one of the most important media events of the year. The forum reaffirmed its status as a leading platform for global dialogue among media, government, and civil society. This year, the forum was attended by more than 1,400 media professionals, executives of leading media outlets, digital activists, scholars, human rights defenders, and political figures from over 100 countries worldwide.
The forum took place on 23-24 June at the World Conference Center in Bonn, Germany, under the motto “Journalism Out Loud: Speak. Listen. Act.” The event brought together journalists, editors, media managers, researchers, representatives of government, human rights organizations, the technology sector, and civil society from different countries.
Opening the forum, Deutsche Welle Director General Barbara Massing emphasized that in the context of large-scale disinformation, social polarization, and rapid technological change, independent journalism remains one of the key pillars of democracy.
The theme of information integrity ran through many of the forum’s discussions. The focus was on how society can protect people’s right to reliable information in the face of mass manipulation, polarization, the influence of algorithms, and the rapid spread of synthetic content. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, spoke about digital rights and the protection of society from the destructive impact of digital platforms and artificial intelligence.
The forum program focused on discussing the challenges of today’s information ecosystem. The topics included the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism, changes in media consumption, the safety of journalists in conflict zones, and the interaction of media with major technology companies.
Artificial intelligence and journalistic standards. Participants spoke about the need to preserve “human control” in journalism, the risks of automated “malicious AI swarms”, as well as AI forensics tools that help detect hidden forgeries, sound manipulations, and fakes.
Crisis of trust and changing media consumption. During the forum, the Reuters Institute presented its large-scale study of the news market – the Reuters Digital News Report 2026. The results showed that young people under the age of 25 increasingly choose social networks and video hosting platforms instead of traditional media such as television and official news websites. At the same time, the level of deliberate news avoidance is growing, which is linked to psychological fatigue from negative content.
Safety of journalists and the work of media in conflict zones. The forum also discussed the protection of reporters in hotspots and the fight against impunity for crimes against media workers. For Ukraine, this topic is extremely relevant. A symbolic event was the presentation of the DW Freedom of Speech Award, which this year was given to imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai for his commitment to freedom of speech.
Interaction of media with major technology companies. During the panel “Between Innovation and Dependence: Journalism’s Love-Hate Relationship with Big Tech,” participants focused on the problems in the relations between content producers and digital platforms, including Meta, Alphabet, and X. The discussion addressed the dependence of media on technology giants and the need for further professional and regulatory reflection.
Participation in the international forum in Bonn is an opportunity to compare Ukraine’s experience with the global discussion on the future of media. The topics discussed by the participants are directly relevant to Ukraine: disinformation, the safety of journalists, the influence of digital platforms, the development of artificial intelligence, and changing media consumption.
Such platforms have practical value for the regulator. They help to more accurately assess risks in the media environment, develop approaches to regulating the digital space, strengthen dialogue with the media, and take international experience into account in matters of audience protection.
At the same time, Ukraine is not only a participant in this conversation. The experience of Ukrainian media, which continue to work during the war, counter systemic information attacks, and uphold professional standards under constant pressure, is important for the international media community.
The Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum 2026 demonstrated that the future of journalism now depends not only on editorial offices. It requires responsible work by the media, clear rules for digital platforms, technological readiness, protection of journalists, and strong interaction between the professional community, society, and regulators.
