Journalists Urged to Adapt to Technology While Upholding Ethical Standards

Journalists must adapt to technology while upholding ethical standards to maintain public trust and relevance in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

This was the key message from Dr. Grace Githaiga, CEO of KICTANet, who delivered a keynote address at the Media Council of Kenya’s Annual Media Summit, themed “Public Interest in the Era of Technology: Media Accountability and National Values.”

Her paper examined how technology is transforming journalism, with implications for press freedom, public trust, and media regulation.

Dr Githaiga, a former journalist turned tech policy expert, leads KICTANet, a think tank advocating for balanced ICT policies that uphold constitutional rights and public interest.

She opened with a humorous nod to AI’s capabilities, stating, “Tools like ChatGPT and Parrot.ai can craft convincing introductions, showing both the power and risks of AI in generating disinformation.”

This set the stage for her discussion on technology’s dual role in journalism.

She outlined how digital newsrooms, AI-driven content, social media, and citizen journalism are blurring traditional boundaries.

“Kenya’s media landscape is evolving rapidly,” she said.

“Journalists use smartphones to break stories, and audiences demand real-time engagement.”

However, she noted the pressure for speed often sees social media outpace traditional outlets, though “well-researched exposés still hold value.”

Dr. Githaiga highlighted technology’s democratizing effect, enabling journalists to reach new audiences and amplify voices. Yet, she cautioned about threats like digital surveillance, cyber harassment, and misinformation.

“Journalists fear speaking out due to subliminal messaging about surveillance,” she said, urging the Media Council of Kenya to protect online journalists and advocating for legal frameworks to balance free expression with platform challenges.

Public trust, she argued, is eroding due to misinformation, clickbait, and perceived bias.

“Trust is the backbone of journalism, but it’s fragile in this era of echo chambers,” she said, calling for stronger editorial standards, fact-checking, and ethical reporting.

Dr. Githaiga also encouraged journalists to engage with technology, noting their historical reluctance to cover tech issues.

“Participate in AI hackathons and invest in digital literacy and security,” she advised.

On accountability, she emphasised that journalists must hold themselves to high standards while innovating. “Technology is a tool, not an end,” she said. “Our purpose is to inform and unite the public with integrity.”

Addressing fears of AI replacing journalists, she asserted, “Those who adapt will thrive. AI can’t replicate the human touch in investigative or human-interest stories.”

Panel Discussion Insights

The keynote was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Abraham Marita, Project Director at Internews, featuring James Wamathai (Bloggers Association of Kenya), Young Muthomi (Royal Media Services), Francis Mureithi (Radio Africa Group), Rosemary Mwangi (Communications Authority of Kenya), and Jacinta Kiraguri (Standard Group Plc).

James Wamathai noted the reliance on technology among journalists and content creators, saying, “AI helps lay a story’s foundation, but overreliance can lead to ethical issues.” He raised concerns about AI being used to target journalists, citing technology-assisted gender-based violence and fake content creation.

Young Muthomi acknowledged AI’s transformative impact, stating, “AI can handle tentative tasks, potentially replacing roles, but it also creates new opportunities.” He emphasised the need for upskilling, warning, “If we don’t embrace AI, we risk being driven out of newsrooms.”

Francis Mureithi shared that Radio Africa Group is developing its large language model (LLM) tailored for media. “AI processes report in seconds, but human oversight ensures objectivity and accuracy,” he said, noting their internal AI policy aligns with Kenya’s journalism code of conduct.

Jacinta Kiraguri highlighted technology’s efficiency, saying, “We’ve moved from 30-person broadcast vans to one camera person with a smartphone.” She urged media houses to “wake up and embrace AI” to stay competitive, suggesting workforce reallocation to add value.

Rosemary Mwangi addressed regulatory challenges, noting, “Regulation lags behind innovation.” She outlined the Communications Authority’s sandbox initiative to test innovations and stressed collaboration with platforms to label harmful content and restore trust. On licensing AI-driven stations, she said, “Current laws require human ownership, but we must revisit regulations.”

Audience questions focused on aligning journalism education with industry needs and developing policies like the EU’s Digital Services Act.

Mwangi responded, “We’re working toward an African digital policy through a September trust summit, positioning Kenya as a leader.”