Ezulwini – Journalists, editors and media stakeholders from across the Kingdom of Eswatini gathered at Royal Villas in Ezulwini on December 22, 2025 for the National Media Awards, where the European Union renewed its support for free, independent and professional journalism.
The remarks were delivered by Ms Eva Maria Engdahl, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to the Kingdom of Eswatini, during an evening attended by the Minister of Information, Communications and Technology, Members of Parliament, the ICT Portfolio Committee, leaders of the Eswatini National Editors Forum, the Eswatini National Association of Journalists, civil society representatives, award nominees and members of the media fraternity.
Addressing the gathering, Engdahl said the awards recognised not only excellence but also the people behind the bylines, scripts and visuals that shape public discourse in Eswatini on a daily basis. She said journalism remained central to accountable governance, social cohesion and the protection of human rights.
She said the European Union viewed free and pluralistic media as a cornerstone of resilient democracies, adding that safeguarding media freedom also protected citizens’ right to access credible information and participate meaningfully in shaping their future.
Engdahl reminded the audience that on May 2, 2025, World Press Freedom Day, the EU partnered with the Eswatini National Editors Forum. She said the collaboration went beyond commemoration and focused on practical engagement around emerging issues such as artificial intelligence and developmental journalism.
She outlined key areas of EU support for the media sector, including efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation through fact checking, balance and strong editorial standards. She said the rapid growth of digital technologies and artificial intelligence had brought both opportunities and risks for journalism.
According to Engdahl, artificial intelligence was already transforming newsrooms by improving investigative reporting, content production, multilingual access and data analysis. She cautioned, however, that the same tools could be misused to spread false information if not applied responsibly. She pointed to the EU AI Act, described as the world’s first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence, as a framework offering lessons on ethical and safe use.
She also raised concern about foreign information manipulation and interference, commonly referred to as FIMI, saying such practices by both foreign and domestic actors had increased globally. She said information manipulation now played a significant role in political, social and economic debates, posing risks to democracy, social cohesion, security and stability.
Engdahl said the EU had invested in strengthening capacity to counter disinformation and propaganda through initiatives such as the EUvsDisinfo platform and the European Digital Media Observatory. She said fact based journalism remained one of the strongest tools against manipulation, ensuring that citizens, including emaSwati, could access accurate information to make informed choices.
She said the EU also worked with the media to share information about development opportunities in Eswatini, noting that human development and social inclusion were central to EU cooperation in the country. She added that the media played a key role in telling inclusive stories and ensuring that women, young people and marginalised communities were visible and heard.
Engdahl said accurate reporting on programmes such as Erasmus Plus, technical and vocational education and training initiatives and youth empowerment projects helped young people imagine new futures and access life changing opportunities.
She told journalists that while technology could support their work, it could never replace human judgement, ethical responsibility and lived experience, adding that public trust resided with people rather than platforms.
Engdahl congratulated all nominees at the 2025 National Media Awards, saying their work and voices continued to shape Eswatini’s public conversation and development. She said the European Union remained committed to supporting capacity building, dialogue and innovation within the media sector.
She also extended festive greetings to attendees ahead of the Christmas holiday and the new year.
