Early insights on how AI is reshaping African newsrooms from Digital Media Africa 2024

Digital Media Africa 2024,a sold-out event that ran this week at the Aga Khan Universityin Nairobi, Kenya boasted a packed programme for a capacious audience.

The theme addressed the subject of innovation from various angles including: the organisation of media groups, adoption of new technologies, evolution of revenue models and audiences, as well as the need to support the fundamental mission of news media.

Organisers, participants and the 150+ delegates - comprising media stakeholders and academics from 18 countries across Africa and Europe - brought the conference to life on social media, with a plethora of posts across various platforms that highlighted the many touchpoints that resonated.

Churchill Otieno: "Today's conference is timely and critical as media professionals face urgent, complex issues. When independent media is weakened, disinformation and manipulation take hold, undermining democracy and societal structures." #DMAfrica2024pic.twitter.com/5V9fEDNPeR

- Kenya Editors' Guild (@KenyaEditors) September 18, 2024

As with most news media gatherings throughout the year, AI dominated the discourse even in the run up to the conference, which was preceded by a full-day workshop on AI in Journalism, co-hosted bytheEastern Africa Editors Societyand theInternational Fund for Public Interest Media.

The interactive session was led by Lyndsey JonesandAdmire Mare, and held at the Hyatt Regency Nairobi.

Aimed at Editors-in-Chief and newsroom leaders, critical topics included AI's role in reporting, production processes, and monetisation, as well as copyright, licensing and ethical issues surrounding AI.

The team from WAN-IFRA's Women in News shared highlights across social media.

After a short breakfast break, we are back for the mid-morning session. Breaking for group discussions
-What are the ethical dilemmas?
-Key opportunities?
-Risks?
-Mitigations for the risks#DMAfrica2024pic.twitter.com/sBEZEXz5g7

- Eastern Africa Editors Society (@EA_Editors) September 17, 2024

The conference proved a success, by all accounts, and these posts are just a reflection of the knowledge shared and insights gained. We will be delving deeply into these during the next few weeks, so watch this space for further revelations from Digital Media Africa 2024.

'Ethics must govern technological choices within the media and human decision making must remain central to all aspects of journalism including the use of AI systems.' Izak Minnaar, Consultant, Press Council, South Africa.#DMAfrica2024#WINAfricapic.twitter.com/B4mUnC9PlW

- Claire Mitchell (@clairemitus) September 18, 2024

Lucinda Jordaan

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