Reporting on the Environment in Asia-Pacific Forum

18 – 20 March 2025
Bali, Indonesia

Reporting on the Environment in Asia-Pacific Forum, held from 18–20 March 2025 at Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali, Indonesia, featured an engaging panel discussion on “AI and Environmental Reporting – Curse or Opportunity?” Moderated by Ramesh Bhushal, EJN South Asia Projects Manager, the session brought together renowned experts including Prof. Dr. Ir. Esther Irawati Setiawan, Google Developer Expert in Machine Learning and Professor at ISTTS; Arun Karki, Project Director at Centre for Data Journalism Nepal; and Sam Schramski, EJN Special Projects Editor. The panel kicked off with each speaker sharing innovative projects at the intersection of AI and journalism, with Prof. Dr. Esther focusing on the ethical potential of Gemini and Responsible AI. She detailed how these technologies, when applied responsibly, can simplify complex data and enhance storytelling in environmental reporting. As the discussion deepened, the panel debated the inherent challenges and opportunities posed by AI integration in media, emphasizing both the transformative possibilities and the hurdles that need to be overcome. The session concluded with a dynamic Q&A, where practical tips and tools were exchanged to empower media outlets and individual journalists in covering pressing environmental and climate issues in the Asia-Pacific region.