Artificial Intelligence in Contemporary Journalism Practice in Benin City, Edo State

Authors

Josephine Osatohanmwen Adeyeye, PhD.

Senior Lecturer, Benson Idahosa University (Nigeria)

Frances Nneka Nwabufoe.

Assistant Lecturer, Benson Idahosa University (Nigeria)

Hasel Akpevwe Owobu

Research Assistant, Benson Idahosa University (Nigeria)

Article Information

DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2026.10100345

Subject Category: Meadia Studies

Volume/Issue: 10/1 | Page No: 4464-4475

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-01-16

Accepted: 2026-01-24

Published: 2026-02-05

Abstract

The researchers examined the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in contemporary journalism in Benin City. The study sought to understand how journalists in Benin City integrate AI into their work, and the challenges they face using traditional practices and regulatory concerns. Anchored on the Technological Determinism theory and Diffusion of Innovation theory, the researchers employed the survey research method and questionnaire as data collection instrument. The population of the study covered all registered journalists in the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) working in Benin City and purposive sampling technique was used in administering 186 copies of questionnaire on the sample size that was arrived at using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size determiner. Findings of the study revealed, among others, that journalists (68.5%) in Benin have not fully adopted AI into journalism practices due to lack of training, infrastructure, and regulatory support. The researchers recommended targeted training programmes and the establishment of robust regulatory frameworks that address ethical concerns to ensure responsible AI use in Nigerian journalism

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Contemporary, Journalism, Practice, Digital Technologies

Downloads

References

1. Adeyeye, J. O., & Nwaoboli, E. P. (2024). Assessment of digital migration switch-over preparedness among select broadcast stations in Benin City. Wukari International Studies Journal. 8 (8), 124–133. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Adjin-Tettey, T. D., Muringa, T., Danso, S., & Zondi, S. (2024). The role of artificial intelligence in contemporary journalism practice in two African countries. Journalism and Media, 5(3), 846–860. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5030054 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Asemah, E. S., Gujbawu, M., Ekhareafo, D. O., & Okpanachi, R. A. (2017). Research methods and procedures in mass communication (2nd Ed.). Jos: Great Future Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Asemah, E. S., Nwammuo, A. N., & Nkwam-Uwaoma, A. O. A. (2022). Theories and models of communication (2nd Ed.). Jos: Jos University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Becker, K. B., Simon, F. M., & Crum, C. (2023). Policies in parallel? A comparative study of journalistic AI policies in 52 global news organisations. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/c4af9 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Beckett, C. (2019). New powers, new responsibilities: A global survey of journalism and artificial intelligence. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE): Polis. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bouchard, L. (2024). AI revolution in journalism: What it means for news. Louis-Francois Bouchard. Retrieved from https://www.louisbouchard.ai/ai-and-journalism/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Broersma, M., & Singer, J. (2021). Caught between innovation and tradition: Young journalists as normative change agents in the journalistic field. Journalism Practice, 15(6), pp. 821-838. doi: 10.1080/17512786.2020.1824125 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2014). The second machine age: Work, progress, and prosperity in a time of brilliant technologies. W.W. Norton & Company. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Bughin, J., Seong, J., Manyika, J., Chui, M., & Joshi, R. (2018). Notes from the AI Frontier: Modeling the Impact of AI on the World Economy. McKinsey Global Institute. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/artificial-intelli-gence/notes-from-the-ai-frontier-modeling-the-impact-of-ai-on-the-world-economy#/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Caswell, D. (2023). AI and journalism: What’s next? Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Retrieved from https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/ai-and-journalism-whats-next [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Chandler, D. (1995). Technological or Media Determinism. Retrieved on April 21, 2025. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Chaudhary, M.U., Usman, S., Ghani, A., & Farooq, U. (2025). The Impact of New Media on Contemporary Journalism. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(1), 876-886. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Columbia Journalism School. (2022). Artificial Intelligence in the news and how AI reshapes journalism and the public arena. Columbia Journalism School. Retrieved from https://journalism.columbia.edu/news/tow-report-artificial-intelligence-news-and-how-ai-reshapes-journalism-and-public-arena [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Cools, H., & Diakopoulos, N. (2023).Writing guidelines for the role of AI in your newsroom? Here are some, er, guidelines for that. Nieman Labs. https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/07/writing-guidelines-for-therole- of-ai-in-your-newsroom-here-are-some-er-guidelines-for-that/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Davenport, T.H., & Ronanki, R. (2018). Artificial Intelligence for the real world. Harvard Business Review, 96(1), 108-116. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Diakopoulos, N. (2019). Automating the news: How algorithms are rewriting the media. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Dörr, K. N. (2015). “Mapping the field of Algorithmic Journalism”. Digital Journalism. 4 (6): 700–722. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. EtiJm-James, G. (2024). Journalism in the Twenty-First Century and the Implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence in News Production and Distribution. AMAMIHE: Journal of Applied Philosophy, ISSN: 1597 – 0779, 22 (4), 22-30. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.16714.79047 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Galily, Y. (2018). Artificial intelligence and sports journalism: Is it a sweeping change? Technology in Society, 54, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2018.03.001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Graefe, A. (2016). Guide to Automated Journalism. New York City: Columbia Journalism Review. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Guanah, J. S., Agbanu, V. N., & Obi, I. (2020). Artificial intelligence and journalism practice in Nigeria: Perception of journalists in Benin City, Edo State. International Review of Humanities Studies, 5(2), 698–715. Retrieved from https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/irhs/vol5/iss2/16/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Kolawole, S., Umejei, E. (2018). Nigeria. Media Landscapes. Retrieved May 17, 2025, from https://medialandscapes.org/country/nigeria [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Linares, C. L. (2024). 15 concepts for understanding AI in journalism: and their applications in newsrooms. LatAm Journalism Review. Retrieved from https://latamjournalismreview.org/articles/15-concepts-for-understanding-ai-in-journalism-and-their-applications-in-newsrooms/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Loosen, W. (2018). Four Forms of Datafied Journalism: Journalism’s Response to the Datafication of Society. Research Network “Communicative Figurations”, University of Bremen (ZeMKI). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Marconi, F. (2020). Newsmakers: Artificial Intelligence and the future of journalism. New York: Columbia University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Montal, T., & Reich, Z. (2017). I, robot. You, journalist. Who is the author? Authorship, bylines, and full disclosure in automated journalism. Digital Journalism, 5(7), 829-849. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Okonkwo, P., Njoku, I. A., & Okonkwo, R. N. (2024). Digital media ethics in generative AI journalism: A framework for accountability. Preprints.org. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202411.2157.v1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Okoro, N. (2001). Mass communication research: Issues and methodologies. Nsukka: AP Express Publishers. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Omoera, O.S., Nwaoboli, E.P., & Emwinromwankhoe, O. (2024). Introducing Media Studies: A holistic approach to understanding communication. PEMVHM PUBLISHERS, Benin City, Edo State. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Oyedeji, O., & Uthman, S. (2024). Opportunities and challenges of adopting AI in journalism in Nigeria. International Journal of Media, Journalism and Mass Communication (IJMJMC), 10(2), 21–28. ISSN 2454-9479 https://doi.org/10.20431/2454-9479.1002003 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Phillips, A. (2014). Journalism in context: Practice and theory for the digital age. Oxfordshire: Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Porlezza, C., & Schapals, A.K. (2024). AI Ethics in journalism (Studies): An evolving field between research and practice. Emerging Media. SAGE 1-15 DOI: 10.1177/27523543241288818 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Russell, S., & Norvig, P. (2020). Artificial Intelligence: A modern approach (4th ed.). Pearson. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Sofiullahi, A. (2024). How journalism groups in Africa are building AI tools to aid investigations and fact-checking. Global Investigative Journalism Network. Retrieved from https://gijn.org/stories/africa-journalism-building-ai-investigations-fact-checking/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Stryker, C., Kavlakoglu, E. (2024). What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?. IBM. Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/artificial-intelligence [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Thurman, N., Dorr, K., & Kunert, J. (2017). When reporters get hands-on with robo-writing: Professionals consider automated journalism’s capabilities and consequences. Digital Journalism, 5(10), 1240-1259. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Verma, D. (2024). Impact of artificial intelligence on journalism: A comprehensive review of AI in journalism. Journal of Communication and Management, 3(2), 150–156. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Ying, L. (2025). Research on the application of Artificial Intelligence technology in the field of news communication: Master’s Degree paper: Specialty 061- Journalism. Sumy State University. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles