Stakeholders, Journalists Brainstorm On AI Use In Media Space

Stakeholders, including journalists and media organisations have raised concerns over the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the newsroom.

They feared that it could be disruptive in the media space if due diligence were not carried out.

This was the outcome of a virtual meeting organised by the Safe Media Initiative with the theme, “AI and Media Project: Navigating the Present and Shaping the Future” on December 11.

In his opening remarks, the chief executive officer of Safe Media Initiative, Peter Iorter, said the conversation on AI in the media had become necessary because the world is in an era where technological innovations are reshaping the media landscape at the “speed of light.”

He said that while the core principles of journalism remain the same, audience preferences, formats, channels and revenue streams are shifting rapidly and at the heart of this shift lies technology.

“One of the most disruptive forces is AI. Here, the theory of disruptive innovation is no longer a theory, but a reality, as even the mainstream media are compelled to adapt, rethink and redefine practices.

“So, while on one hand, AI promises efficiency, deeper audience engagement and new revenue opportunities, on the other hand, it raises profound ethical questions about the integrity of news and safety of journalists.

“We can say AI promises efficiency, but it also tests out ethics. In that context, this project is not just timely; it is essential because it navigates the present and shapes the future of the journalism space,” he said.

In her presentation on “AI Ontegration in Newsrooms: Gender-sensitive Risks and Practices,” the executive director, Gender Strategy Advancement International, Ms Adaora Onyechere”, said AI is rapidly transforming how news is gathered, produced and distributed.

She, however, noted that, although AI is transformative, its integration into the newsroom is not entirely neutral.

“It carries what I call embedded risk for women and gender minorities who are women with disabilities,” she said.

According to Onyechere, even though AI looks to be simplistic, it’s not always correct as data from it is skewed against women.

“For instance, in 2023, the Reuters Institute Study found that automated story ranking systems automatically, disproportionately amply stories featuring male political actors while minimising women’s economic or governance stories,” she said.

Additionally, Dataphye’s country director, Oluseyi Olufemi, stated that the use of AI is not the problem, but rather the way it is utilised, and that over-reliance on AI can diminish editorial returns.

Speaking on the topic “AI Capabilities, Ethical Implications and Best Practices for Responsible Integration into News Production,” Oluseyi said that newsrooms with good, ethical editorial standards before deploying AI will still achieve the same outputs, but not so for careless newsrooms.

Meanwhile, the secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Council, Jide Oyekunle, said the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), in connivance with some politicians, is using the Cybercrime Act 2024 to suppress press freedom in the country.

He said the Act has become a serious problem to practice journalism in the country and for journalists.