World press freedom day: NUJ FCT calls for ethical use of AI in journalism

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has called for the ethical application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism, as media professionals around the world mark the 2025 World Press Freedom Day.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, emphasized the need for journalists to embrace emerging technologies while safeguarding the core values of press freedom and ethical reporting.

This year’s theme, “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,” focuses on the dual nature of AI in media, its potential to revolutionize news production and its accompanying ethical challenges.

“Artificial Intelligence is redefining the way we produce and consume news,” Ike said. “While it enhances content creation, boosts audience engagement, and strengthens fact-checking processes, it also poses serious questions around authorship, bias, accountability, and the risk of automated censorship.”

She urged journalists in Nigeria to stay grounded in the local realities of their work, warning that overreliance on AI must not erode journalistic integrity or weaken the watchdog role of the press.

The NUJ FCT Council reaffirmed its commitment to supporting journalists in navigating technological change without compromising professional ethics or freedom of expression.