AI In The Newsroom: Journalists Urged To Embrace Tech Revolution At NUJ-Chevron Training
In a world where the news cycle is increasingly driven by speed, precision, and public trust, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic buzzword—it’s a journalistic necessity.
That was the message echoed in Abuja as Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, trained over 70 journalists on the use of AI to enhance their craft and combat misinformation.
Held under the theme ‘Harnessing Artificial Intelligence in Journalism’, the one-day capacity-building workshop, sponsored by the NNPCL-Chevron Joint Venture, underscored AI’s growing role in shaping media productivity, ethics, and innovation.
Representing Chevron’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Olusoga Oduselu, Mr Victor Anyaegbudike described journalists as “agenda-setters and opinion moulders,” stressing the importance of equipping them with tools to thrive in an evolving media landscape.
Oduselu reaffirmed Chevron’s commitment to human capital development, referencing the long-standing Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (AWARES) programme, which has trained over 120 journalists since 2014.
“AI can improve the speed, accuracy, and depth of your work. It’s a new frontier, and we must walk into it confidently—without compromising ethics or public trust,” said NUJ FCT Chairperson, Comrade Grace Ike. She applauded Chevron for supporting what she called a “vital training” at a defining moment for journalism in Nigeria.
She encouraged journalists to embrace AI tools for fact-checking, data analysis, content personalisation, and even transcription—tools already reshaping newsrooms worldwide.
Experts at the workshop also didn’t shy away from the flip side of the digital revolution.
Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, warned that those who ignore AI risk becoming obsolete in the newsroom. “Journalists must evolve with the tools of the time or risk professional extinction,” she cautioned.
Meanwhile, Dr Emman Usman Shehu, represented by senior editor Dr Simon Musa Reef, urged participants to take full advantage of the Freedom of Information Act, noting a recent Supreme Court ruling now compels all levels of government to comply.
Another speaker, Dr Lemmy Ughegbe, took a sobering turn, highlighting the mental health toll of online journalism. From cyberbullying to burnout, he stressed that digital stress is real. “Protecting your mental health is not selfish—it’s professional responsibility,” he said.
The event concluded with a renewed call for responsible innovation: journalists were urged not just to adopt AI, but to wield it in ways that uphold public trust, preserve journalistic integrity, and shape a more informed and resilient society.
