Editors and Journalists have been urged to brace for the challenge posed by Artificial Intelligence, AI, social media and other evolving technology trends.
The call was made during the paper presentation on day two of the ongoing All Nigerian Editors Conference ANEC, holding in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Commenting on the sub-topics “Good Practices for Viable Sustainable Media Financing” and “AI Generated Story Telling, Opportunities and Challenges,” by the Senior Vice/Chairman and Editor in Chief of Leadership Newspapers, Azu Isehikwene, challenge editors and reporters to adapt to the emerging trends in the technology.
Isehikwene, pointed out that AI though poses a challenge but can actually be effectively use to enhance performance.
In his submission, Mr Martins Onoja said: “first it was Internet and as we are grappling with that, then the economy. As we are trying to grapple with the economy, AI is at the corner. So, we must learn how to manage these three traits very well and turn it into business.
“As we demonstrated by AI, if we are not careful, AI can also take some jobs to the newsmen.In some climes, they already doing that. AI can sit down here and write the story of what has happened faster, better than the reporters we have in the newsroom.
“So we need to begin to learn how to incorporate AI in our processes. A lot of organizations have done it abroad. I advise that we follow the trend that is working. Particularly New York Times have done a lot of experiments with technology, and they are making money out of it. So, if we can study the York Times and adapt some of the things that they have done, it will be better. The problem is that some of us are not digital compliant.”
In his remarks as Chairman of the session, Mr Taiwo Obe, challenged the media managers to dominate all digital media apps and platforms as owners of information, and to be aquatinted with their audiences so as to leverage on it.
He said: “Do you know where your audiences are? Do you know where your audiences are? Do you know their preferences? How do we convert them to loyal followers
President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, Mr. Eze Anaba, in a chat with reporters, said editors and journalists should weaponized AI for their own good, pointing out that only those who are non-thinkers should be threatened by AI.
He said: “It will be a threat to the non-thinker. It will be a threat to a journalist who is not, who does not want to conform. Because today modern journalism is that you play where the progressive play instead of AI becoming a drag, you turn it to a weapon to improve your craft.
“The advent of AI should not paralyse us, we should weaponized it for our own good because the principles have not change.”
