https://www.factcheckng.com/2023/08/embrace-factchecking-investigative.html?m=1

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Paul University Awka, Anambra State, Professor Chinyere Stella Okunna, Wednesday, urged journalists not to rely solely on artificial intelligence for news gathering and reporting.

Okunna, who is the first female Professor of Mass Communication in Nigeria, disclosed this in a paper co-presented with a lecturer in the department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr Henry Duru, at one day training workshop for journalists on reporting in a treacherous and insecure environments.

The event was organised by Ikenga Media with sponsorship of MacArthur foundation facilitated by Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).

She argued that although artificial intelligence was good and worth leveraging on, it is not as powerful or original as human brain since it generates data from predetermined sources based on algorithm which could be biased.

The university don also charged journalists to attend training, invest time and other resources on investigation and factchecking so as to unearth accurate information before publishing or broadcasting information available to them to avoid misinforming the society.

Contributing, the Coordinator, Ikenga Media & Cultural Awareness Initiative, Dr Chido Onumah and Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, stressed that investigative journalism was hallmark for societal development, even as they enjoined journalists to uphold the ethical codes of the profession in all they do.

Earlier, the Editor-in-Chief of Ikenga online, Mr Uche Ugboajah explained that the training was aimed at building the capacity of journalists on investigation and factchecking with a view to promote good governance, while encouraging healthy living and inclusion for people living with disabilities, among others.