Sola POPOOLA
Journalists have been charged to sharpen their election reporting skills by harnessing the vast potential of artificial intelligence .
This was the focal point of a two – day stakeholders’ dialogue for journalists in Ekiti State. The programme, organized by the International Press Centre, aimed at strengthening factual, accurate, and fair coverage of election ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship poll.
It is funded by the European Union under the EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II), Component 4: Support to Media.
In his opening remarks , the IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade explained that the programme was part of a five-year intervention to support democratic governance and improve the media’s role in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He added that the initiative is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the media to promote credible elections through factual, accurate and fair reporting, Arogundade said.
Arogundade hinted that fact-checking and inclusive reporting are critical responsibilities for journalists, particularly during election periods, noting that the media must play a central role in ensuring transparency and accountability.
The Director of Journalism Clinic, Mr. Taiwo Obe urged journalists to adapt to changing news consumption patterns by adopting digital tools and artificial intelligence.
“My charge to today’s journalists is to retool themselves and learn how to use digital apps and tools in their practice because media consumption habits have changed in the digital milieu, Obe said.
“This according to him requires the use of those apps and tools, even artificial intelligence.” He said the digital transformation of the industry requires continuous skill upgrades for journalists to remain effective.
In his presentation , Prof. Adebola Aderibigbe of the Department of Mass Communication, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, told participants that coverage of the 2026 poll should be driven by issues rather than personalities.
The election will not be defined by personalities; it should be defined by issues. Let issues be the pivotal ring upon which every discussion should be made. Sensationalization of issues should not be the bedrock of discussions in the 2026 election.
“Be accurate. Fact-check every story. Ensure that your stories are not only correct but cross-checkable. Your reports must contain facts, and those facts should be verified.
“Do not hear from Party A without hearing from Party B; otherwise the report will be skewed to one side. And once issues of elections are skewed, problems will naturally arise” he added.
He stressed accuracy, fairness, and balance as core standards. “Fact-check every story. Ensure that your stories are not only correct but cross-checkable.
“Do not hear from Party A without hearing from Party B. Otherwise, the report will be skewed to one side, and once issues of elections are skewed, problems will naturally arise”.
The media experts posited that the newsroom of the future will not be defined by automation replacing journalists, but by journalists empowered by intelligent tools.