EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON JOURNALISM PRACTICE IN NIGERIA: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CHALLENGES FACED BY REGISTERED JOURNALISTS IN NORTH- WEST NIGERIA IN THE ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. (KEY IJP************939)

• Bashir Abdullahi Lawal, Abubakar Usman, Ibrahim Mohammed

Abstract

As AI continue to shape the journalism landscape, it is essential for journalists to possess adequate awareness and understanding of its capabilities and limitations. Awareness implies providing adequate information and up-dates to help people prepare themselves and take positive action to overcome threats. The perception of registered journalists varies. Some believe that AI can be harnessed as a powerful tool to amplify their work rather than replace it entirely. Others perceived it as a threat to job security. The objective of the study was to examine the perception of registered journalists on job security in the era of artificial intelligence in North-West, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised three hundred and eighty-four (384) registered journalist selected from various media organizations in North -West Nigeria. The entire population was used. The instrument for data collection was a 5- point rating scale instrument titled: Questionnaire on Journalists Job Security in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (QJJSEAI) developed by the researcher. The instrument was validated by 3 experts and was tested for reliability using Cronbach Alpha which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.86. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions and t-test to test the hypotheses. Results indicated that there is a high extent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) awareness among registered Journalists in North West Nigeria and there is a high extent to which learning new skills in AI-assisted reporting ensures job security in the era of artificial intelligence. It was recommended that Media organizations should invest in comprehensive AI training and retraining programmes to equip journalists with the needed skills in AI technology.