Nampa chief executive calls for AI awareness in African newsrooms

Namibia Press Agency (Nampa) acting chief executive Jata Kazondu has emphasised the urgent need for African newsrooms to adopt clear policies on artificial intelligence (AI).

He said this should be done while strengthening journalistic solidarity in the face of global threats.

Speaking during an international roundtable hosted by the Russia Segodnya Media Group to mark the International Day of Journalists’ Solidarity earlier this week, Kazondu said AI tools are increasingly being used by individual journalists in Africa, but without institutional guidelines.

“In Namibia and across Africa, AI is already in our newsrooms, for research, transcribing and editing, but the lack of formal policies creates ethical and credibility risks. We must raise awareness, invest in training and ensure human oversight in how these tools are applied,” he said.

He cautioned that AI algorithms, built primarily around English, often fail to capture the nuances of African languages and dialects, resulting in a loss of meaning and cultural essence.

“Namibia alone has over 100 dialects. Too often, AI-generated content strips away this richness, reinforcing negative narratives about Africa,” he said.

Turning to global solidarity, he emphasised that African journalists also face persecution, particularly in conflict zones, echoing challenges in Gaza and Iraq.

“Africa is burning in many areas. Journalists are targeted and persecuted. We need stronger international solidarity, not silence, when colleagues are jailed, harassed, or even killed,” he said.

Other speakers at the roundtable included media leaders from Brazil, India, Iraq and Russia, who highlighted challenges ranging from disinformation and declining revenues to the risks of AI-generated deepfakes.

Russia Segodnya’s international cooperation director, Vasily Pushkov, criticised what he described as a lack of global solidarity, citing the muted response to journalists imprisoned in conflict zones.

The International Day of Journalists’ Solidarity, observed annually on 8 September, was established in 1958 to honour Czech journalist Julius Fučík, executed by Nazi Germany in 1943. It serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by media practitioners worldwide.

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