Ex-NUJ Scribe Tasks Journalists On Ethical Use Of AI

Nigerian journalists have been urged to harness the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) ethically while addressing its challenges to thrive in today’s evolving media landscape.

The call was made by a veteran journalist and former national secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Shuaibu Usman Leman, during a media summit organised by the Bauchi State Council of the NUJ at the Yankari Games Reserve yesterday.

In his presentation, Leman lauded AI’s positive impact on the media industry, noting its role in enhancing efficiency, automating tasks, improving accuracy in fact-checking, personalising content, boosting audience engagement and uncovering new stories and perspectives.

However, he cautioned against the downsides of AI, including ethical concerns, risks of bias, job displacement, accuracy challenges and the erosion of trust and credibility.

“AI is a double-edged sword. While it revolutionises how we report, engage and inform, it also poses risks that demand vigilance and responsible use,” Leman said.

To address these challenges, Leman proposed actionable steps for media practitioners, including prioritising human oversight, ensuring transparency and accountability, investing in AI literacy and training, and promoting public media literacy to counter misinformation and build trust.

NUJ Bauchi State chairman, Comrade Umar Sa’idu, described the event as a turning point in the discourse on the future of journalism in Nigeria. He praised the robust conversations among media executives, which he said would redefine the role of the press in the country. He called on the participants to ensure that knowledge and skills gained from the summit were put into use for better service delivery to the people.