AFYMP TRAINS OOU CAMPUS JOURNALISTS

By Latifat Shittu 

The Africa Foundation for Young Media Professionals (AFYMP) on Saturday, December 6, 2025, held a training session for campus journalists at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Mini-Campus.

The workshop, which began at 10 a.m., was themed “AI, Ethics, and Censorship for Contemporary Journalism.” It aimed to equip early-career journalists with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the rapidly evolving media landscape.

Renowned media career expert Mr. Yinka Olaitan facilitated the session, sharing practical insights and professional guidance with participants. He stressed the importance of prioritising the story above personal recognition, noting that a journalist’s primary duty is to serve the audience with accurate and meaningful information.

Speaking on the role of artificial intelligence in modern journalism, Mr. Olaitan explained that AI should be seen as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human journalists. According to him, AI can aid research, enhance content distribution, improve fact-checking, analyse data, and boost newsroom efficiency. He, however, added that journalists must always credit AI tools whenever they influence their work.

He also highlighted some challenges associated with AI use, including algorithmic bias, the fear of job displacement, ethical and legal concerns, and the risk of overdependence. On self-censorship, he described it as the ability to know when to limit AI use to preserve the integrity and originality of a report.

Mr. Olaitan encouraged young journalists to build strong AI literacy, create personal editorial guidelines, and draw from African-centred data sources. He reminded participants to maintain the human angle in storytelling, warning that stories should never sound machine-generated.

Before the session concluded, he introduced the participants to several AI tools beyond ChatGPT that can enhance journalistic work. A brief question-and-answer segment followed, allowing attendees to seek clarification on key issues discussed.

The training provided participants with a clearer understanding of how to adopt AI responsibly while maintaining originality, ethics, and human-driven storytelling in their work.