By Peace Udugba — The Daily Torch Media
Media experts have urged Nigerian journalists and newsroom leaders to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) while strengthening the human qualities that remain central to credible journalism, including trust, originality, empathy, accountability and editorial judgment.
The experts spoke at the 4th Media Roundtable organised by Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in Lagos.
Themed “Beyond the Byline: Monetising Journalism in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” the event brought together editors, media entrepreneurs, technology experts and academics to examine the impact of AI on news production, distribution and revenue generation.
Head of Communications at PAU, Dr Temitope Falade, said journalists must become more dynamic and resourceful as AI continues to transform the media industry.
Falade said the challenge was not simply to adopt AI tools but to use them without compromising journalistic ethics, editorial independence and public trust.
She noted that traditional media organisations were facing pressure as advertising revenue moved increasingly towards digital platforms, while audiences became fragmented and consumers expected free access to news.
According to her, the disruption also presents opportunities for media organisations to develop specialised products, build stronger communities, use data and technology effectively, and establish partnerships capable of generating sustainable revenue.
Delivering the keynote address, Temitayo Fagbule, Bureau Chief, West Africa, CNBC Africa, urged journalists to focus on the strengths of human journalism rather than treating AI solely as a competitor.
Fagbule said journalists could not compete with AI in terms of speed and volume but could distinguish their work through trust, impartiality, context and human experience.
He stressed that journalists should bring greater depth and humanity to their reporting because stories often require perspectives and judgments that technology alone cannot provide.
Also speaking, Samson Folarin, Editor, Weekend Titles, PUNCH Newspapers, said traditional newsrooms could not match AI in speed and volume, making trust an increasingly important asset for media organisations.
Folarin encouraged newsroom leaders to become AI-literate and use the technology for repetitive tasks such as headline generation, editing, proofreading and transcription, allowing journalists to devote more time to investigative and in-depth reporting.
Earlier, Muzzamil Oreoluwa, Software Developer and Innovative Team Lead at CJID, demonstrated AI tools that media practitioners can use for transcription, data analysis, audience insights and automated fact-checking.
On media sustainability, Wale Olajubu, Executive Director of the Health Business Academy for Africa, urged media organisations to strengthen their digital payment systems and develop effective ways of converting audience reach into revenue.
He identified micro-payments, memberships and niche premium products as potential avenues for sustainable digital journalism.
Rosemary Egabor-Afolahan, Communications Executive and founding member of News Central TV, advised journalists to continuously upgrade their skills as the media industry evolves.
Media practitioner Peter Okwoche also urged newsrooms to understand their audiences and tailor content to the platforms where different categories of readers consume information.
The roundtable also featured Dr Desmond Moru, Acting Head of the Department of Computer Science at Pan-Atlantic University.
The discussions underscored that while AI is reshaping the way journalism is produced and distributed, human judgment, ethical reporting, original journalism, credibility and public trust remain critical to the future and sustainability of the media industry.
