Plateau Journalists Equipped with AI Skills for Ethical Newsroom Integration

Stallion Times Media has trained journalists in Plateau State on the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to navigate the evolving media landscape shaped by global information technology.

The one-day workshop, held at the NUJ Press Centre in Jos, was a collaborative effort between the state's Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) council and Stallion Times Media Services. Over 20 journalists from print and broadcast media attended, gaining valuable insights into AI innovations that can enhance their professional work.

In her welcome remarks, the Plateau State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Ayuku Pwaspo, stated that the workshop was designed to guide journalists on properly integrating AI into news production.

"This training is very important to the future of journalism in this state because we are already seeing the influence of AI in our newsrooms," Pwaspo said. "We must be proactive as we leverage AI to improve storytelling. We must protect the integrity of the profession by ensuring that ethics always come first."

She expressed concern over the erosion of public trust, emphasizing, "It means that in using AI, we must prioritize ethical considerations even as we continue our work, so that the public will respect us."

The Chairman explained that the training is part of a series of capacity-building programs planned by the council for the year and commended Stallion Times for equipping her colleagues with these essential skills.

The Editor-in-Chief of Stallion Times, Isiaku Ahmed, advised journalists to embrace the innovations brought by AI while being guided by ethical considerations, warning that failure to adapt could risk their relevance.

While presenting copies of the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists and the Freedom of Information Act (2011) to Chairman Pwaspo, Ahmed urged journalists to consistently reflect on and apply the guidelines in their daily reporting.

"For us, ethical consideration in the usage of AI in journalism is paramount," Ahmed emphasized. "Whether online or in hard copy, we see stories that are not original carrying the names of journalists instead of being credited to AI, which is an unethical practice."

Participants expressed appreciation for the training, noting that they were introduced to various AI tools like ChatGPT, Deeplink, and CapCut. They reported that the interactive session provided hands-on experience, equipping them to use AI responsibly by upholding core journalistic values such as accuracy, truthfulness, transparency, balance, and fairness.