Pan-African Media Summit emphasises ethical AI application

ARUSHA: THE second Pan-African Media Councils Summit, hosted by the Network of Independent Media Councils of Africa (NIMCA), concluded in Arusha with a call to African media stakeholders to embrace ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advance inclusive journalism.

Vice-President of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Mr Yussuf Yussuf, described the summit as both impactful and visionary.

Delivering the closing speech, he highlighted the event as a platform for dialogue, shared commitment and renewed focus on building a media environment that is ethical, inclusive and resilient.

“Your insights have reminded us of the power of free and responsible media in shaping our democratic and development path,” said Mr Yussuf.

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“This is not the end, but a beginning of a stronger cooperation across Africa.” The summit featured rich discussions on AI integration in media, including a thought-provoking presentation by Dr Elisha Magolanga from the University of Dar es Salaam.

He urged journalism educators to adapt to modern technologies, warning that students are often more techsavvy than lecturers.

“We must update our teaching approaches. AI is here to stay. If we cling to outdated methods, we risk losing relevance,” he said. South African media expert Ms Pathiswa Tshangana warned about uncritical use of macro-AI systems in newsrooms.

She said most AI tools are not designed for African contexts, raising concerns about source reliability, content accuracy and plagiarism.

“Journalists must be able to trace where AI-generated content comes from, who created it and whether it meets ethical standards,” she said.

Dr Tawfik Jelassi, Unesco Director General for Communication and Information, proposed the “Three Cs” — Capacity Building, Connectivity and Content Development — as foundational pillars for AI inclusion in Africa’s media sector.