This year on 3rd May we’re celebrating World Press Freedom Day 2025 by spotlighting a powerful grassroots voice from Tanzania – a community radio station deep in Maasai land. Orkonerei FM, founded by Lukas Kariongi, isn’t just airing stories, it’s defending the fundamental right to speak, inform and be heard. Lukas’ radios are transmitting not pop culture and hits but transforming culture and fighting for human rights and equality.
What is World Press Freedom Day?
World Press Freedom Day celebrates the vital role of the press and protected journalists worldwide. It was established by the United Nations to defend media from censorship and attacks, whilst reminding the world that freedom of access to information is a human right. It’s also a day to remember those journalists who have lost their lives in the pursuit of a story.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme, “Reporting in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Journalism in the Brave New World,” invites us to examine how press freedom can be protected in the face of digital complexity and suppression. In places like rural Tanzania, however, it’s not AI that dominates radio waves, but access and the right to communicate. That’s exactly where this story begins.
Journalists fighting for freedom
In Tanzania’s Maasai heartland, Lukas and his team at Orkonerei FM are doing more than just broadcasting – they’re pushing back against systemic silencing. His radios are at the forefront of a technological and rights revolution.
Speaking the truth, however, even in a culturally respectful way, remains risky. Lukas and his journalist colleagues have faced arrests and intimidation. They also don’t have permission to broadcast in the Maasai language, even though 80% of people in the Simanjiro District don’t speak Swahili.
Journalists have to spend two years studying a diploma in Journalism before receiving a press pass in Tanzania, and even after acquiring this they still risk being detained or harassed for their work.
Rocking the boat by raising awareness of human rights in rural Tanzania is putting journalists at risk. Whether covering sensitive topics or empowering local people to question decisions affecting their families, these experiences highlight a global reality: even local journalism can be dangerous, especially when amplifying the voices of the marginalised.
World Press Freedom Day isn’t just about protecting international war reporters or investigative journalists. It’s also about defending community broadcasters who risk their safety every day to keep their people informed.
A voice that serves the voiceless
“The benefit is to acquire information [quickly], as [it is] happening… and the other benefit is [to] announce their news when they [lose] their cows, their children; [about] Maasai culture” – Lukas Kariongi
Local radio is playing a vital role in preserving culture and sharing crucial information. It also serves as a platform for amplifying the struggles of communities often left out of national conversations. Orkonerei FM broadcasts information about lost children, missing cows, community conflicts and rites of passage – everyday stories that reinforce trust and identity.
For the Maasai, radio is more than a medium. It’s a bridge between tradition and modernity. Lukas explained that the stations serve vital roles in preserving and sharing culture practices. But these journalists are putting themselves at risk: the very act of broadcasting is dangerous.
World Press Freedom Day reminds us that journalism isn’t confined to cushy newsrooms or dangerous conflict zones. It happens in rural villages powered by people like Lukas who are putting their freedoms in danger to amplify their communities’ voices.
Why it matters
Freedom of expression is a human right, whether you live in central London or rural Tanzania. Orkonerei FM enables stories to be carried across distances, reinforcing cultural identity while offering critical updates and practical solutions.
Freedom of press must mean freedom for all forms of media – including remote radio stations and journalists working within their own communities. Lukas’ story is a reminder that real change starts at home. When the right to speak is protected, so are the rights to learn, grow and imagine a different future.
In rural and Indigenous communities where human connection and trust are paramount – the threat isn’t just AI – it’s being left out of the media conversation entirely.
How does World Press Freedom Day align with the values of The Community Revolution CIC?
At The Community Revolution CIC, we believe in amplifying community-led media and local voices, challenging structural inequalities and creating platforms for change. We’re proud to share Lukas’ story as part of our mission to empower communities and foster equality through storytelling, training and solidarity. The full interview will be featured in our podcast. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of its publication.
World Press Freedom Day is a day to stand up for the right to information, expression and safety for journalists everywhere.
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Together, we can build an equitable future defined by freedom for journalists worldwide.
