Albarka FM, supported by the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), in collaboration with the Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability project, highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact and shape the future journalism.
The groups and their representatives spoke at a daylong media workforce roundtable, organized to equip journalists – across radio, television, newspapers and online – with tools to enrich their knowledge and improve their performance.
Ibilola Daniel Akahome, research analyst and coordinator of the academy, who addressed the participants on the use of AI in investigative journalism via Zoom, said the use of artificial intelligence will improve efficiency through an expedited investigation process.
He added that leveraging AI technology for investigative journalism was deliberate and strategic to improve the effectiveness and impact of investigative reporting.
“Adopting AI tools in African contexts while ensuring ethical and reasonable use is essential to foster transparency, accountability and truth-seeking in journalism.
“This involves the deployment of AI-based tools such as machine learning concepts and algorithms to argue various aspects of the investigative journalism process,” he noted.
According to him, artificial intelligence is crucial to strengthening investigative journalism globally and in Nigeria.
On the global adoption and local impact of AI in journalism; he mentioned automated fact-checking, story generation, social media monitoring and trend analysis, among others.
Speaker says AI plays central role in revolutionizing investigative journalism by expanding access to information, improving reporting accuracy and credibility, and revealing insights from unstructured data , although he advised participants to start using it to improve their reasoning and make their reports effective.
Adebola Bakare, Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, presented the second topic, “The Imperative of Online News Media and Their Influence in Facilitating Good Governance”, highlighting the need for journalists to further exploit the technological advances that are useful to them. to stay relevant in the service.
He observed that online media provides immediate access to information, provides opportunities for whistleblowers, strengthens good governance, etc. However, it must be used judiciously to put governments on their guard and not to bias, misinform, start war, sensationalize or distort the facts.
Bakare, however, enjoined journalists to carefully verify information before disseminating it and encouraged them to refrain from sharing or broadcasting unverified information.
He said: “Journalists should never be purveyors of fake news, they should be aware of the danger of sharing and always verify reports reporting it. »
