AI and Journalism: Experts Warn of Growing Risks, Call for Responsible Use, Accountability | ClipTV Online

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (Generative AI) in journalism is already shaping the newsroom. It is transforming how news is researched, gathered, produced, verified, shared, and consumed. Nevertheless, media veterans have warned that the technology also presents challenges to accuracy, credibility, and public trust.

These concerns were underscored during the Press Society (TPS) Maiden Physical Media Sensitization Workshop, held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Thursday. The workshop, themed ‘Balancing Creativity in the Media in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,’ inspires ethical yet creative writing in journalism.

In his opening remarks, Comrade Elias Abayomi Adagunduro highlighted the basis for the theme. He noted that artificial intelligence (AI) has come to stay; however, its use should be responsible.

He explained that AI can generate content that breaks news, but it cannot feel people’s actual feelings, nor the emotions or pain that misleading information can cause.

Adagunduro further states that although these tools can help achieve faster results, he called on news reporters to remain accountable and responsible.

In his keynote presentation, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director (ED), Media Career Development Network, stated that there are codes of conduct in different fields. He noted that journalism is no different, highlighting the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

Otufodunrin then emphasized the foundation upon which journalism is built by quoting from the Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists. He stated that the preamble of the code states that “journalism entails a high degree of public trust.” He added that “to earn and maintain this trust, it is morally imperative for every journalist and every news medium to observe the highest and professional standards.”

The ED therefore emphasizes the importance of ensuring that AI use in journalism adheres to these professional standards. His topic, ‘Ethics, Credibility and Public Trust in the AI Era,’ is thereby very key. Otufodunrin noted that almost every human engages with AI in different forms. He cited the use of autocorrect on our phones, grammar checks, and other mobile devices with AI tools for better writing.

Additionally, he said AI can create convincing stories, photographs, videos, and voices within seconds. He notes that it can potentially make journalism faster, cheaper, and more creative. He however warns that the same technology can also make falsehood appear credible.

Furthermore, Otufodunrin emphasized that the use of AI tools is valuable in today’s newsroom but also warned of the need to earn public trust. Noting that journalists should state it when AI is used in research or news gathering, adding that such information will increase public trust in such journalists.

He closed by encouraging newsrooms to subscribe to the pro versions of these tools. Adding that AI tools can be helpful and impactful, but can also harm public interest in journalism if not properly used. Adding that “AI can hallucinate facts, fabricate quotations, invent sources and references, reproduce bias, manipulate photographs and videos, generate deepfake audio, and create plagiarism and copyright problems,” he concluded.

The host of the Manifesto program, Nigeria political accountability show, Bukola Adebayo, highlighted some AI tools that can enhance journalism today. In her presentation at the TPS Maiden Sensitization Workshop, her topic, titled ‘AI for Smarter Journalism,’ built on the earlier speaker’s theme.

She noted some AI tools that may help journalists work smarter and more efficiently. She stated that a tool that can help transcribe 30-minutes interview could be Turbo Scribes. Bukola states that this tool is both smart and efficient, but can only transcribe 3 audio files daily.

She also highlighted tools such as Grammarly, Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, QuillBot, Perplexity AI, ElevenLabs, Midjourney, and Envato Labs as part of the growing AI toolkit available to journalists.

Bukola added that the pro versions of these tools will make a huge difference in how technologically savvy journalists are. She added that these tools should not replace the integrity of journalism, stressing that journalists’ words must remain central to ethical use of AI. She then concluded that there is a growing need to create AI policies in every newsroom. Adding that creating such policies will guide journalists on the ethical use of AI.

The concluding speaker, Comrade Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), noted that AI is advancing at a pace that even newsrooms can hardly compete with—highlighting that the TPS workshop is timely for enhancing the ethical use of AI tools in the fast-paced environment.

According to Arogundade, journalism is currently at an “inflection point”, with artificial intelligence advancing faster than newsroom policies. He added that it’s also faster than journalism curricula and professional codes that can be adapted. He stated that AI is no longer a future possibility but is already being used in newsrooms and journalistic workflows.

The comrade highlights the history of journalism from the era of linotype in 1950 to photo typesetting in the 1970s, then to desktop publishing in the 1990s, and finally to social media platforms in 2005. He noted the advancement and generational change in the newsroom down to 2022. He added that organizations recognizing how generative AI is shaping the news, commence creating AI policies in 2025.

Arogundade further notes that, though the journalism era before the generative AI was tedious and time-consuming, it however produced rewarding verification, accountability, and editorial authority.

He then notes that some organizations and associations are already making efforts to ensure ethical use of generative AI. He emphasized that organizations such as the International Press Center (IPC), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the NPC, and the Press Society have also been organizing training and workshops to shape ethical AI usage in journalism.

Comrade Arogundade concluded by reiterating that generative AI will not replace the core role of journalists, which is telling the truth, verification, and public accountability.

The 2026 maiden edition of the Press Society (TPS) workshop has been instructive on how generative AI can valuable tools in the newsroom. With this new knowledge, journalists would be able to balance their creativity and ethical writing while engaging with artificial intelligence.