PRNigeria, NADIR Sensitises Journalists on Localising AI in Newsrooms

PRNigeria, NADIR Sensitises Journalists on Localising AI in Newsrooms

The Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR) and PRNigeria has enjoined media practitioners on the need to incorporate the application of artificial intelligence (AI tools in order to boost efficiency and improve performance across their newsroom.

The Executive Secretary of NADIR and head of Innovation at PRNigeria, Mohammed Dahiru Lawal, who is the convener disclosed this during a one-day roundtable discussion with journalists in Kano State.

The maiden dialogue with the theme “Localising Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Newsrooms and Digital Media” was aimed at bringing together local journalists, media professionals, and AI experts to explore the potential and challenges of localising AI in the media landscape.

He emphasised that AI tools have the capacity to enhance the journalism profession when deployed appropriately, especially in today’s media landscape where digitization and automation are taking the lead.

“The time is ripe for journalists and reporters to embrace and learn how to manipulate AI tools effectively in order to enhance their job and improve performance towards achieving the targeted organisational goals.” Mr. Lawal added.

While making a presentation, an AI and communication expert, Malam Isah Ali Muhammad, noted that the need to incorporate AI tools across various work landscapes can never be overemphasised.

The facilitator harped on the need to localise AI tools across the newsroom while still paying attention to the conceptof ethics and responsible journalism.

On the other hand, the participants described this kind of discussion as timely and very apt, especially when there is concern about AI having the potential to displace many people from their jobs due to its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reduced time consumption.

Having judiciously analysed the challenges and prospects of AI tools, the participants strongly advocated for their application and sought a series of capacity-building trainings in order to equip journalists with the requisite knowledge of their proper application.