The future of journalism: A scramble for miscellanea | Namibia (2023)

It is common knowledge that the world has changed. Information and data are moving from a period of physical goods, such as operations, logistics, and products and services, to a more expansive forum of mass communication.

This change means institutionalizing public services, non-governmental organizations, supermarkets (SMEs), restaurants, agricultural-based organizations, and even worship houses so they no longer interact with clients and customers face-to-face but meet them online, on the Internet.

But how are print and broadcast media pushing through the array of technological advances such as e-governance, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence? The use of artificial intelligence in reporting stands out as the most significant issue in this article.

First off, is AI even safe? Do the elites have any other goals other than what they first bluffed about? Are we living in the end times, when cruel, powerful men use robots to their advantage?

To indenture and brainwash people to take part in devil worship? To take advantage of weak and poor nations unable to fund mega-technology? Or is it a good idea?

For starters, according to sources, journalism is aided by algorithms, smarter technology, and software systems.

AI is used to write news stories and collect facts on leads and the latest fads. It is a significant advancement from the time when journalists had to use computers and their investigative skills to gather information.

The aim is not to replace human labor but rather to reduce human error, even if that is not the case. Hence, Professor Stephen Hawking warned that the effort to create artificial intelligence could lead to the end of humankind. (Cellan-Jones, 2014).

AI has had a few successes in the newsroom. However, recently, a certain social media company left AI to write a "feed" by collecting data and giving a report, which resulted in an official failure.

Allegedly, AI wrote an inaccurate news story. Given its analytical approach of using algorithms to track accurate information and data—I mean, this is what AI is built for, right?—it should ease the consumer uncertainty caused by journalists who try to be subjective, inaccurate, and unethical.

Furthermore, a digital shift in journalism leads to exploitation and retrenchment. Of course, it is said that smart technology in media houses and newsrooms is aimed at improving the quality of news stories.

However, in a more detailed sense, the use of AI in journalism means replacing journalists who are unable to carefully carry out tasks that only robots can perform without breaking a sweat.

For example, AI is not intended to simply mash up with journalists and work for the greater good, but rather to increase the tension of outworking humans. In fact, journalistic work is more understandable with the help of AI.

Nevertheless, it comes as no surprise that large amounts of news come from the free press. Yes. Due to free press freedom and media rights, in many countries, citizens take the risks of investigating news stories and releasing them on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or even blogging, just to mention a few.

As far as free media and freelance journalism are concerned, journalism is shifting from the newsroom to a desktop on a table in someone's room.

Of course, anyone can report the news and write news stories, given the criteria, style, and appropriate news values. Unlike the dying conventional hard copy circulation of newspapers, online magazines and newspapers can still keep media houses alive by increasing their return on investment.

News agencies such as the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) or Reuters gather news facts and distribute them among publishers and editors, primarily to the public. NBC broadcasts news events on television, radio, and YouTube.

If Namibia wants to be at the cutting edge of journalism and AI, it needs to embrace the mega-technology of artificial intelligence. With an understanding that Namibia is a very poor country and with the latest discoveries of oil and green hydrogen, Namibia can improve its economy and reduce the chances of falling behind.