The Minister for Information, Honourable Fatimatu Abubakar has urged media owners and managers to see the strategic importance of AI in their newsrooms and invest in training.
Addressing a gathering at the Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) 75th-anniversary commemorative Lecture Series at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Madam Abubakar also encouraged journalists to engage in continuous learning about AI not only to stay relevant but also to enhance their ability to tell powerful stories.
On the theme: “75 Years of Excellence in Journalism”, the minister noted that over the past seven and a half decades, GJA has been a champion of press freedom, playing a crucial role in ensuring the media remains a powerful voice for the people.
She explained that, the theme honours the legacy of the pioneers who envisioned a free and independent press as essential to Ghana’s democracy and as journalism rapidly evolves, the sub-theme focusing on AI’s role in the future of journalism highlights the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in reshaping the industry.
According to her, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a concept of the future; it is already revolutionizing news production, presentation, and distribution and stressed the importance of equipping journalists with the necessary knowledge and skills to responsibly integrate AI into their practice.
“Media owners and managers are urged to recognize the strategic importance of AI and invest in training their staff to adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape. Journalists can enhance their ability to tell impactful stories, investigate thoroughly, and connect with their audience in innovative ways if they embrace AI”, she added.
Despite encouraging the use of AI, she also warned that AI brings significant challenges adding that it is crucial to preserve the human touch in storytelling and guard against biases, misinformation, and the erosion of public trust hence balancing innovation with responsibility is essential to ensure that AI remains a positive force in journalism.
The minister further expressed her ministry’s unwavering commitment to strengthening ties with the Ghana Journalists Association and promised to equip journalists with the skills needed for responsible journalism, such as the Media Capacity Enhancement Program (MCEP).
