BY EUNICE EMEYAZIA
As the importance of Artificial Intelligence in journalism continues to take the front burner in global discuss, the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) under the leadership of the National Chairperson, Hajia Aisha Bura, has trained it’s members on the use of NewsAssist AI.
The Workshop which held online with the theme, “NewsAssist AI Beyond the Byline: Exploring AI’s Role in Journalism and Investigations”, provided insights on how AI could enhance investigative journalism, with emphasis on safety and security.
The Convener of the workshop and Deputy National President NAWOJ, Dr. Lilian Okonkwo-Ogabu harped on the importance of exploring AI tools in investigative reporting, and learning how to leverage NewsAssist AI to ensure safer, more secure, and impactful journalism in today’s complex media landscape.
Dr. Ogabu said Artificial intelligence (AI) was changing the journalism landscape, allowing newsrooms to work more efficiently, hence the training aimed at building the capacity of female journalists in Nigeria to enable them contribute more to the growth of their various media organisations and the society at large.
She urged the participants, comprising Women journalists across Nigeria, to take the training seriously, reiterating the commitment of the Aisha Bura’s administration in empowering its members with cutting-edge tools and skills to excel in their profession.
The Founder and Developer, NewsAssist Ai and Trainer at the workshop, Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi said Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made journalism practice easier, especially in Content Generation, Research and Investigation, Audience Engagement and Creation of new opportunities.
Kevin-Alerechi, a renowned investigative journalist and founder of the Colonist Report UK and Africa, enlightened the female journalists on how to leverage the NewsAssist technology in Journalism, especially in Automated News Writing, Content Personalization, Fact-Checking and Verification, as well as Multimedia and Synthetic Media.
While noting that NewsAssist AI app can transcribe about four languages and help save recorded audios, she urged the female journalists to leverage the NewsAssist and other AI apps for safer, more secure and impactful journalism.
The National Secretary NAWOJ, Comrade Wasilah Ladan, on behalf of the participants, commended the trainer, Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi, for her innovative approach to AI-powered journalism, and expertise in environmental and climate investigations, assuring her that the knowledge gained would be put into good use.
The workshop provided NAWOJ members across the country a complimentary access to NewsAssist AI, an innovative AI-powered platform founded by Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi, to support newsrooms and journalists in enhancing their workflow and reducing stress in news story production.
It featured a question and answer session where grey areas were clarified.
NIM
