As Artificial Intelligence (AI) changes the way information is researched, produced and consumed, journalists are being encouraged to develop new digital skills while holding on to the editorial judgment and ethical standards that make journalism credible.
The call came during a hands-on training session held on August 27, 2026, at the AUN American Space, where journalists and media professionals explored digital and AI tools that can help them find stories, conduct research, understand audience interests and improve newsroom productivity.
The session was facilitated by Mr. Chyulu Kenneth Kiunga, Google News Initiative Trainer for Sub-Saharan Africa, who has more than a decade of experience in broadcast, print and digital media. The training was delivered virtually in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, allowing participants at Window on America Yola to join journalists and media professionals from across Nigeria.
Kiunga demonstrated how journalists can use Google Trends to track issues attracting public attention, explore related topics and see which platforms and media organisations are reporting on emerging subjects. The tool, he explained, can help journalists understand what audiences are searching for and spot areas of growing public interest.
He then turned to Google Gemini, focusing on the importance of effective prompting. He noted that the strength of an output depends largely on the strength of the input and encouraged journalists to give AI tools clear and detailed instructions. These could include assigning Gemini a specific role, identifying the target audience and specifying the desired format of the response.
According to Kiunga, journalists can instruct Gemini to “assume it is the editor” and clearly state the kind of assistance required. He explained that breaking down a task into specific components, identifying the intended audience and indicating whether the desired output should be presented as a video script, table or another format can significantly improve the quality and relevance of the results.
Participants were also introduced to NotebookLM, a Google AI tool that can support research by allowing users to work with and explore information from their own sources. Kiunga stressed that journalists remain in control of the process and should use AI to assist their work rather than replace professional judgment.
The demonstrations also sparked discussion among participants about how technology is changing journalism and the relationship between the media and its audiences.
Bethel Olujobi raised an important question about how journalists can balance what audiences want to know with information they need to know, considering the media’s traditional role as an agenda setter.
Similarly, Epa Ogie Eboigbe questioned the strong media attention given to ChatGPT despite the wider AI ecosystem, noting that several AI tools rely on technologies developed by companies such as NVIDIA. He also highlighted Microsoft Copilot as a useful option for media research.
The discussions pointed to a growing challenge for journalists: how to take advantage of new technology without allowing it to weaken critical thinking, verification and editorial responsibility.
As AI continues to influence the way news is researched, produced and consumed, journalists will need to combine digital skills with sound professional judgment. The training reinforced the importance of using emerging technologies responsibly while maintaining the accuracy, ethics and public-service values that underpin credible journalism.
Reported by Pwagreno Blessing Moris