INFLUENCE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON ETHICAL PRACTICES OF SENIOR JOURNALISTS AMONG SELECTED NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study explores the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the ethical practices of senior journalists in selected national newspapers in Nigeria. As AI technologies increasingly permeate global newsrooms, their impact on journalism, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria, warrants critical examination. The objectives of AI among senior journalists at major Nigerian daily newspapers, including Punch, The Nation, and Vanguard were to (i) to Identify the level of awareness of AI tools among senior journalists in Nigeria, (ii) to investigate the kind of ethical practices among senior journalists in Nigeria, (iii) to assess how senior journalists in Nigeria are using AI to solve false reportage, (iv) to Identify how AI can be used for automated reports among senior journalists in Nigeria. Employing a quantitative approach, data was collected through a structured survey of (122) journalists using a Stratified sampling technique, analyzing how AI tools are integrated into news production and their implications for journalistic integrity. The findings highlight that while AI enhances operational efficiency and data-driven reporting, it simultaneously raises concerns about the erosion of traditional journalistic skills, transparency, accountability, and the potential for algorithmic bias. Therefore, Influence of AI on ethical practices of senior journalist among selected national newspapers in Nigeria contributes to the theoretical discourse on Technological Determinism and offers practical insights for journalism education and policy development, emphasizing the need for robust ethical guidelines to govern AI usage in Nigerian newsrooms. The research underscores the importance of maintaining professional integrity in an era of AI-driven journalism to ensure public trust and uphold democratic values.