Editors and journalists have been encouraged to adapt to the fast-evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI), social media, and other technological advancements impacting the media industry.
This call came on the second day of the ongoing All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
During the conference, Azu Ishiekwene, Senior Vice Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Leadership Newspapers, delivered a paper presentation on “Good Practices for Viable Sustainable Media Financing” and “AI-Generated Storytelling: Opportunities and Challenges.”
He emphasized the necessity for media professionals to stay abreast of these trends, noting, “AI can improve productivity, but if we are not careful, it could replace some journalism jobs. In some places, AI already writes stories faster and better than reporters.”
Highlighting both opportunities and risks, Ishiekwene pointed out that AI, when utilized effectively, could significantly enhance performance in newsrooms.
He cited The New York Times as an example of a media organization successfully incorporating AI to boost productivity and generate revenue.
In another address, Martins Onoja underscored the importance of balancing technological advancements with economic interests, saying, “We must learn to turn these trends into business opportunities.”
This was echoed by session chairman Taiwo Obe, who urged media managers to dominate digital platforms, understand audience behavior, and leverage data. “Do you know where your audiences are? How do you convert them into loyal followers?” he asked.
Further stressing the positive use of AI, Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) President Eze Anaba encouraged journalists to “weaponize” AI to enhance their work, stating, “AI should not paralyze us. We must use it to our advantage, as modern journalism requires us to evolve with technology.”
