Abstract

This roundtable will discuss how AI is reshaping journalism education, media practices, and the broader information landscape across the region. In the context of this panel, Central Eurasian countries will refer to post-soviet countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping today’s media environment, influencing how journalists find information, produce news stories, and connect with audiences. These developments are also affecting journalism education, as universities and training programs work to prepare students for a rapidly changing digital landscape. In Central Eurasia, the growing use of AI in media raises important questions about how technology is influencing knowledge production, media practices, and existing power structures.

This roundtable explores how AI is reshaping journalism education and media systems across the region. The roundtable will provide analysis of how universities are updating their curricula to respond to new technological realities, how journalists are experimenting with AI tools in their everyday work, and how media organizations are navigating the opportunities and challenges created by these technologies. It will also examine broader issues such as digital literacy, ethical considerations, and the role of emerging technologies in shaping information flows.

By focusing on experiences from Central Eurasian countries, the panel seeks to contribute to wider conversations about how technological change is transforming media, education, and society. More broadly, it invites reflection on how AI may influence the evolving relationship between knowledge, technology, and power in the region.

Participants will discuss the following questions: How is AI changing journalism education and professional practices in Central Eurasia? In what ways are universities and media organizations adapting to the rapid development of AI technologies? What ethical and professional challenges emerge from the growing use of AI in news production? And how might these technological shifts reshape media systems, knowledge production, and power relations in the region?