By Aminu Ahmed Mamagi
As the world evolves, so does technology. The rapid advancement in Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping various sectors, from healthcare to engineering, and journalism is no exception.
Gone are the days when journalists would travel extensively to find stories, search through physical archives, and rely solely on face-to-face interviews. In the past, the entire process of journalism—from pre-production to post-production—required long hours, physical presence, and intense manual labor. Today, machines are gradually taking over some of those tasks, a reality that Nigerian journalists must confront.
AI tools now assist with fact-checking, content creation, editing, and even interviewing through virtual assistants. Platforms such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Jasper AI are becoming integral to modern newsrooms. They generate story ideas, summarize press releases, and even write news articles with minimal human input. While this development is exciting, it has raised serious concerns among journalists, especially in Nigeria.
For many Nigerian journalists, the fear of being replaced by machines is palpable. With media houses facing financial challenges, there is a temptation to substitute human effort with technology that is faster, cheaper, and more efficient. But does this mean journalism as we know it is at an end?
Not necessarily. While AI may be intelligent, it lacks the human touch—empathy, cultural understanding, and the deep investigative instinct of a trained journalist. Telling Nigerian stories still requires journalists who understand the environment, the people, and the nation’s pulse. AI can assist, but it cannot fully replace the judgment, ethics, and creativity of the human mind.
Moreover, many Nigerian newsrooms continue to struggle with infrastructure, internet access, and digital literacy. While AI is thriving in developed countries, the rate of adaptation in Nigeria is slower due to limited resources. This gives local journalists additional time to evolve, learn, and adapt without immediate displacement.
However, the future is in our hands. Nigerian journalists must embrace this new wave by upskilling and integrating AI tools into their workflows.
Journalism schools and media training centers should also revise their curricula to include AI and digital reporting techniques.
Rather than viewing machines as threats, journalists should see them as partners—tools that can enhance productivity and storytelling. AI can manage repetitive tasks, freeing up time for in-depth investigations and human-centered reporting.
Ultimately, it’s not a competition between man and machine, but rather a collaboration between them. The future of journalism in Nigeria will depend on how effectively we blend tradition with innovation—preserving the core values of journalism while embracing tools that can help us perform our jobs more efficiently and effectively.
Aminu Ahmed Mamagi writes from, Gwagwalada , Abuja FCT
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