What journalists should do with emerging technologies

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to dominate the talk when discussing new technologies in journalism, swallowing up other tech tools. Although rightfully earned, AI is not the only tool journalists need to be conversant with.

There are data analytics and machine learning that take research, data gathering and processing and factual information presentation to a new level, breaking complex concepts down to relatable figures and factsheets.

Geo-journalism is also available for journalists to explore the use of geographic intelligence tools like maps, Satellite imagery, environmental sensors and other climate data to tell essential stories about the environment compellingly.

Drone technology is also used in journalism, already dubbed “Drone journalism”, for journalists to explore in their news coverage. Aside from its use to take aerial footage from a long distance or high altitude, its effectiveness in taking footage of areas that would have been physically inaccessible or dangerous for journalists to reach is its forte.

Virtual and Augmented Reality (AR & VR) is also an innovative tool for immersive storytelling in journalism. With its offering of transporting the audience into the site of the story being reported through its 360’ immersive video footage giving them a more vivid feel of the reality being reported. This immersive storytelling technology is already being used to tell compelling local journalism stories, stories of war, crisis, conflict and also changing climate and their impact on the people.

The big question really is, in the face of these emerging technologies revolutionising the media, What counts for journalists? Yes, what should be the concern of journalists whose profession is always affected by every new technology?

Should you fear AI taking your job as a journalist since it can now automate a lot of generic works and can even generate new and cross-platform content, offering media houses a cost-efficient alternative to labour-intensive work?

Would it be nice of some journalists to resent another breed of journalists who use the offerings of data analytics and machine learning tools to dig out information that would have required more legwork and on-the-ground rummaging of information for their stories?

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The questions may be many, but the answers are not far-fetched. Nothing out of the blues or need to be added to the dictionary of the media profession. Communication, the bedrock of the journalism profession is dynamic and any person dealing with such a dynamic thing must be a master of adaptability.

The Executive Director Media Career Development Network, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin addressed some of the above concerns at a training for campus journalists organised by the Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals (AFYMP) in Ibadan on May 16.

Adaptability is not necessarily a total change or shift from position A to B, it is about adjusting to new conditions. Oxford Dictionary puts it better, “the capacity to be modified for a new use or purpose”, and this is a required attribute for a journalist of this age.

1. In order to adapt to the fast-developing media space in this age of increasingly sophisticated technology journalists should focus on the following things.
   Learn and master its use. Journalists need to learn about these emerging technologies, not deny it’s existence or unnecessarily fight against it. These technologies are meant to help improve the work of journalists and make them work more efficiently.

2. Factor in ethical consideration for responsible use. The journalism profession is guided by ethics and principles which prevent the abuse of power and the infringement of right of others. While emerging technologies like AI, Drone, Data Analysis offer better ways to gather and present information, journalist need to watch out for ethical considerations, like factual accuracy of content, Privacy rights of subjects being covered and even the oversimplification of concepts.

3. Harness the offerings for work and not over-rely. Journalists should responsibly harness these technologies to innovate their news gathering, processing, dissemination and audience engagement work but not over-rely on them because however intelligent these technologies may be, there is still a need for human input for wholesome work.

4. Give a balanced reportage. Journalists need to give a balanced reportage of the technologies and offer valuable insights into its use and possibilities

5. Ensure Accountability through explanatory reporting on complex concepts and investigative reporting on issues that need to be uncovered about the technologies.