Journalists’ Perception of Artificial Intelligence

The Case of Nigerian Newsrooms

Bibliographic Data

ID22011007
AuthorsAmaka Peace Onebunne (0009-0000-3029-5987, Temple University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume14
Issue5
Pages751-770
Publication date2026-05-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDigital Journalism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2167-0811 • E-ISSN: 2167-082X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/21670811.2025.2577127
OpenAlexW4415775073
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited42

Technological advancements have always influenced how news is sourced, produced, and disseminated. Typically, the Global North leads in adopting such technologies, resulting in unequal technological diffusion and research between the Global North and South. This research takes a less-traveled path within the Global South to understand journalists’ views of Artificial Intelligence in Nigerian newsrooms and how geographical and cultural factors influence AI usage. Grounded in the human-machine communication framework, semi-structured interviews with 18 Nigerian journalists revealed a double-edged view of AI: it enhances creativity and efficiency but could lead to intellectual dormancy and, more critically, a mismatch in journalistic output due to the absence of journalistic values in the content generation process. Opinions vary on geographic influences, but many journalists believe AI’s effectiveness is limited by systemic biases rooted in cultural and linguistic contexts that go beyond underrepresentation to include misrepresentation. While individual journalists are increasingly adopting AI, media organizations lack formal AI policies, highlighting the need for greater institutional support. The study recommends that Nigerian journalists use AI cautiously without trading journalistic standards on the altar of automation or efficiency. It calls for government-supported skill acquisition programs to help journalists develop technologies and systems that cater to their needs

Journalism · Perception · AI in Service Interactions · Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Systems · Media Studies and Communication

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