BENIN CITY — The Safer Media Initiative (SMI) has trained 35 journalists in Edo State, with a charge on them them to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a critical tool for survival and relevance in the rapidly evolving media landscape.
The training was organised under the Artificial Intelligence and Media Project themed, “AI Tools for Journalists: Effective, Responsible and Safe Use,” drawing participants from the print, electronic and online media, and advising them that resistance to technological change could cost journalists their careers.
Executive Director of SMI, Peter Iorter, stressed during the session that technological innovation is driving a profound transformation in journalism, making adaptation no longer optional but imperative.
He explained that emerging technologies, particularly AI, have significantly altered how journalists gather, process and disseminate news, and warned that practitioners who fail to align with these changes risk becoming obsolete in an increasingly competitive industry.
“There is something that has changed about journalism. While some aspects remain the same, many changes are driven by technology. Even the traditional media has no option but to adapt, otherwise it risks being left out of the media business,” he said.
Iorter emphasised that AI sits at the centre of this disruption and dismissed widespread fears that the technology will replace journalists outright. He argued instead that journalists who refuse to embrace innovation will lose out to colleagues who adopt and master these tools.
“AI will not take your job, but it will take the job of journalists who refuse to embrace it and give it to those who have adopted it,” he stated, underscoring the urgency for media practitioners to upskill.
He revealed that a recent survey conducted under the project shows that 95 percent of journalists already use at least one AI tool weekly. However, 81 percent rely on just a single tool, commonly identified as ChatGPT, while only 10 percent have received formal training from their organisations.
Iorter described the figures as evidence of a glaring knowledge and skills gap in the industry and warned that superficial engagement with AI tools will not sustain long-term relevance in modern journalism.
While acknowledging concerns about job displacement, he maintained that journalists can overcome such fears by properly understanding and strategically deploying AI to enhance productivity, improve newsroom efficiency and deepen storytelling.
He cautioned, however, that journalists must pair adoption with responsibility, noting that AI introduces complex ethical and safety considerations that require careful navigation.
“It is not just about using AI effectively; it is also about using it responsibly and safely. While it offers efficiency, it also challenges our ethics as journalists. We must learn how to strike that balance,” he added.
Iorter disclosed that the Artificial Intelligence and Media Project receives support from the UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communication and remains the only initiative of its kind in Nigeria with such backing this year.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, Festus Alenkhe, commended SMI for selecting Edo journalists for the capacity-building programme and described the training as timely and critical.
He added that AI continues to shape modern journalism practice and urged journalists to acquire the necessary knowledge and tools to remain competitive, relevant and capable of meeting the demands of a digital-first media environment.
