ICTworks

Generative AI, natural language processing, and machine learning models, are being used by journalists in sub-Saharan Africa to enhance their reporting, storytelling, and content creation processes, allowing them to focus on complex and investigative stories.

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Automation powered by artificial intelligence is utilized by journalists to analyze large datasets, which can uncover trends and stories that might not be immediately apparent. For instance, AI can help with:

• Automated Reporting: AI is being used for automated reporting, particularly for routine news items such as weather reports, sports results, and financial updates. This frees up journalists to focus on more in-depth investigative work.
• Data Analysis: Journalists are utilizing AI to sift through large datasets to identify patterns and stories, such as uncovering corruption or tracking disease outbreaks, which would be difficult to do manually.
• Content Creation: Generative AI assists in drafting articles and suggesting story angles, especially beneficial for local news outlets with limited staffing.
• Multilingual Support: AI tools help in translating content and reporting in multiple languages, which is crucial in a region with a high linguistic diversity. However, the capabilities in African languages are still limited, posing a challenge for truly inclusive reporting.
• Fact-Checking: AI is being integrated into the fact-checking process, as seen with organizations like Africa Check, to combat misinformation and improve media literacy.

How Zambian Journalists Use AI

Internews Network Zambia published an AI Survey Report on the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence by Journalists in Zambia. This study seeks to investigate its potential and challenges in the Zambian media landscape. The study was carried out from August to October 2023 and surveyed 70 media professionals from various media outlet.

Participants were questioned about a range of subjects, including:

• The current use of AI tools in their media house and which ones, if any, are utilized
• The benefits AI tools bring to their operations and whether they’ve contributed to improved efficiency
• The ease of implementing AI tools in the newsroom
• Availability of training to employees for working with AI tools
• Concerns about the impact of AI on their job security
• Opinions on the regulation of AI
• The presence of a newsroom AI policy in their media house

Journalism AI Use Survey Results

The study found that 60% of the surveyed journalists are using AI tools in their newsrooms. These tools include text analytics, chatbots, image and video analysis, social media management, and speech-to-text transcription.

The majority of journalists surveyed said they use generative AI in their work. The most commonly used AI tools include chatbots or conversational AI tools such as ChatGPT, Image analysis, and ChatSonic, with over 18% of the respondents saying they have used the tools.

Almost 19% of the respondents use image and video analysis tools, and 16% use other automated content generation, such as JasperAI and Rytr. The survey further found that automated ad placement tools (Hubspot), speech-to-text, and social media management apps (Hootsuite and Google Analytics) are used to a lesser extent.

The surveyed journalists said the use of generative AI has significantly improved the efficiency of operations in their newsrooms, although some respondents found the integration process challenging.

However, 74% of participants reported a lack of AI training in their newsrooms, highlighting the need for adequate training and support. Almost 85% of survey participants reported that their newsroom does not have a structured AI policy, indicating a need for guidelines to ensure the ethical use of AI tools in journalism.

Interestingly, 74% of the respondents did not perceive AI as a threat to their jobs. However, there were varied opinions on the regulation of AI, with 78% in favor of regulation and 22% against it.

The study recommends that media houses should provide adequate training for their staff, develop AI policies, consider the cultural context, regulate AI use, and take into account ethical considerations.

A lightly edited synopsis of the AI Survey Report on the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence by Journalists in Zambia