The inaugural International Conference of the Francophone Press (CIPREF), which opened in Libreville on 21 January 2026 at the Berthe and Jean International University, has made artificial intelligence and its implications for journalism the practical focus of its early workshops and debates, organisers and participants said. According to coverage of the event, roundtables, masterclasses and hands-on sessions are bringing together journalists, academics and digital experts from across the Francophone world to examine how AI can reshape reporting without erasing human judgement.

At one well-attended workshop, titled "Initiation aux outils d’IA pour journalistes : rédaction assistée, veille intelligente et Fact-checking automatisé", speakers set out how AI tools can streamline tasks such as drafting, monitoring and verification while stressing the continuing importance of editorial skills, ethics and local knowledge. The session reflected the conference’s theme, "Artificial Intelligence and its Impact on the Media", and formed part of a wider programme of practical training intended to equip journalists for technological change.

Melba Orlie Nzang Meyo, teacher–researcher and co‑founder of OBONE IA, used her presentation on "La production des données à partir des IA" to press for stronger attention to local datasets and contexts, arguing that generic AI models often fail to reflect African realities. She warned that, without grounding in professional norms, "si vous êtes journaliste et que vous ne maîtrisez pas la déontologie, l’éthique, la rédaction, ni l’investigation, l’IA devient un danger". Nzang Meyo also said: "Le Gabon communique à sa manière, comme chaque pays d’Afrique et du reste du monde. Rien que par nos différentes langues, on perçoit bien cette différence. Chaque contexte a donc sa réalité, et il s’agissait de mettre cela en avant et de faire prendre conscience aux journalistes que lorsqu’on utilise des IA, il faut tenir compte du contexte, parce que ces outils ne sont pas toujours adaptés à nos réalités locales."

On the subject of fact‑checking, presenters noted that many off‑the‑shelf AI verification tools were developed for European, North American or East Asian information environments and may be ill‑suited to detect the dynamics of rumour and local misinformation in African settings. Speakers encouraged combining AI‑assisted techniques with traditional observation, investigative reporting and context‑specific verification methods to improve accuracy.

Boursier Tchibinda, a veteran Gabonese journalist and media specialist, emphasised the profession’s capacity to adapt, recalling how reporters adjusted to the rise of web journalism and citizen reporting. He told delegates that AI "offers a wide range of possibilities to improve journalistic production" but reiterated that technological tools are complements to, not substitutes for, journalistic training and editorial oversight.

The CIPREF gathering was organised after the cancellation of the 51st International Conference of Francophone Press by the UPF’s international bureau in December 2025; Gabonese organisers subsequently established the new CIPREF framework to ensure continuity and to position Libreville as a Francophone media hub. Government and organising‑committee statements describe the event as a strategic effort to host media leaders from roughly 20–25 Francophone countries and to mount a programme of debate and capacity building on AI and media resilience.

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Source: Noah Wire Services