Journalists urged to combat misinformation in AI era
Journalists have been urged to intensify efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation in the era of citizen journalism, as artificial intelligence and digital algorithms continue to reshape news production and
Journalists have been urged to intensify efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation in the era of citizen journalism, as artificial intelligence and digital algorithms continue to reshape news production and dissemination.
The call was made on Thursday at a symposium organised by Open African Tribune in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
The event, themed ‘Citizen Journalism in the Age of the Algorithm,’ underscored the need for journalists to prioritise ethical reporting, fact-checking and accuracy despite the growing influence of social media engagement and digital platforms.
Speaking at the forum, the Editor-in-Chief of Open African Tribune, Naakuu Paul-Birabi, said the symposium was organised to help journalists and other stakeholders understand the need to bridge the gap between information and knowledge.
He stressed that journalists must play a central role in tackling anti-intellectualism through accurate reporting, proper verification of facts and deliberate efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation.
Paul-Birabi noted that the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithms and deepfakes had created new challenges for journalism, warning that media practitioners must remain conscious of their civic responsibility in addressing false information.
“What we are trying to do is create a forum for journalists and the public at large to understand the mechanics of how we consume news and the narratives that are being formed around us,” he said.
Also speaking, the Founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Fisayo Soyombo, said the value of journalism should not be measured by fame, virality or popularity, but by the ability to provide truthful and useful information to the public.
Soyombo added that news organisations must strengthen their recruitment processes to curb quackery in the profession and uphold ethical standards.
“Journalists have to understand the value of the work that they do and the value of that work is not in fame, virality or popularity. Fame can come along with the work, but it is not the value of the work. It is in feeding people with the information that they do not know and they have to know.
“I think that newsrooms need to be firmer with the standards of people they let into the door. You have to test people on their writing abilities, understanding of journalism and the ethics of journalism,” he said.
He also encouraged journalists to familiarise themselves with digital tools that could enhance their work in the evolving media landscape.
In her remarks, the Director of Programmes at News Central, Tolulope Adelera-Balogun, stressed the need for journalists to verify information from multiple sources before publication in order to curb the spread of false reports.
She said social media should be seen as a tool for news gathering rather than a platform for competing with citizen journalists.
Adelera-Balogun also suggested that media stakeholders should consider licensing journalists as a way of distinguishing trained professionals from citizen reporters without formal journalism training.
