AI should enhance, not replace, good journalism—Experts say

…as Pan-Atlantic University holds Media Roundtable 2026 Webinar

 

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape newsrooms worldwide, media professionals and academics have cautioned that the technology should complement, not replace, the principles of accurate, ethical, and people-centred journalism.

Media and education experts at the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) 2026 Media Roundtable to examine the evolving landscape of African journalism under the theme, ‘The Future of African Media: AI, Monetisation and Editorial Integrity,’ insist that AI should enhance, not replace, good journalism.

Richard Ikiebe, chairman of the board of directors at BusinessDay Media Limited, emphasised that Africa’s greatest challenge is not artificial intelligence but the limited capacity to adopt and integrate the technology effectively.

Ikiebe maintained that AI should serve as a support tool rather than a replacement for journalists, noting that human judgment remains indispensable.

“African media does not need to become a pale copy of global media. Its future lies in being more African, not less; more original, not more imitative; more disciplined, not noisier; more trustworthy, not merely more visible.

“AI will not save weak journalism. But strong journalism, properly organised, can use AI to become faster, deeper, and more sustainable,” he said.

Besides, he said that AI can deliver meaningful value only when media organisations strengthen their data management systems, redesign newsroom workflows, establish clear governance policies, and uphold robust editorial oversight.

“Without these foundational structures, the adoption of AI is unlikely to achieve a sustainable impact,” he noted.

Ikiebe reiterated the importance of maintaining accuracy, credibility, and public trust in an era increasingly shaped by AI and misinformation.

He underscored the need for rigorous fact-checking, verification processes, and editorial independence from commercial and political interests.

Mike Okwoche, international broadcast journalist and global news presenter, highlighted the growing role of AI-powered, accent-aware transcription in improving the accuracy of speech recognition across diverse accents and languages.

Okwoche explained that technology enables more inclusive and reliable transcription of interviews, broadcasts, and multilingual conversations.

He emphasised that AI is designed to support, not replace, media professionals. He stressed that editorial oversight remains essential to ensure accuracy, ethical compliance, and responsible journalism.

“The effectiveness of AI depends on the quality of prompts, reliable data, and well-defined editorial workflows.

“AI can help personalise content for different audience segments, improving engagement and enhancing user experience,” he said.

Morayo Afolabi-Brown, the CEO at MAB Productions, speaking on Leveraging AI for Efficiency and Audience Engagement, described AI as a valuable tool for improving operational efficiency within media organisations.

She explained that automating routine tasks enables professionals to work more efficiently while significantly reducing operational costs.

She observed that AI-driven cost efficiency provides both established media organisations and independent content creators with opportunities to produce more content using fewer resources.

She encouraged independent producers to embrace AI as a means of improving productivity, enhancing content quality, and remaining competitive in an increasingly digital media landscape.

“Technology should complement human creativity rather than replace it. AI delivers its greatest value when it strengthens storytelling, editorial judgment, and creative expression,” she said.

Elizabeth Musa, programme lead and anchor at BusinessDay Television, highlighted AI’s growing importance in strengthening journalistic practice, particularly during breaking news and emergencies.

“AI provides journalists with a strategic advantage by enabling them to gather, process, and disseminate information more quickly, thereby supporting faster newsroom decision-making and timely news delivery.

“Besides, AI is playing an important role across multiple stages of journalism, including storytelling, news writing, research, voice-over generation, content curation, and presenting real-life experiences in more engaging ways,” she emphasised.

Musa noted that as news cycles continue to accelerate, AI has become an essential tool for improving newsroom responsiveness while supporting quality journalism.

Jeremiah Bandele, faculty, Pan-Atlantic University, emphasised that transparency must remain at the centre of AI adoption in journalism and media practice.

Bandele urged media professionals to clearly disclose when AI has been used in the creation, editing, or production of content, noting that openness strengthens credibility and reinforces audience trust.

He also encouraged journalists and communicators to appropriately acknowledge AI-assisted work where relevant, ensuring audiences understand the role technology played in the content creation process while preserving accountability and editorial integrity.

Speakers at the event agreed that while AI presents significant opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity, and audience engagement, its successful adoption depends on responsible implementation, organisational preparedness, and unwavering commitment to ethical journalism.

They also stressed that the future of African media lies in building resilient institutions, embracing innovation, and developing solutions tailored to the unique needs of African audiences.