Media practitioners have been tasked to uphold the core tenets of their profession based on diligence and public interest.
They are also to integrate modern technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, into their reportage.
This formed the crux of deliberations at a Media Capacity training organised for members of the Nigeria Association of Energy Correspondents, NAEC, in Lagos.
The imperative need for ethical, technologically savvy, and people-focused journalism took center stage at the media workshop .
Addressing the critical role in interpreting and implementing energy policies, a communications expert and educationist, Dr. Charles Ebereonwu identified ethnic prejudice, political bias, and poor remuneration as persistent obstacles against objective reporting.
Dr. Ebereonwu urged journalists to protect the integrity of the profession by eliminating activities of quacks in their midst.
“the media must be apolitical, independent from all ramifications and has to be informed and courageous”
On the use of Artificial Intelligence as a tool in the newsrooms, a senior lecturer at the Lagos State University, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Dr. Ganiu Okunnu, explained that AI can be intelligently optimized through precise prompting for responsible energy reporting.
The lecturer who warned against the risk of AI-generated hallucinations, stressed that the technology should function as a “co-pilot” to journalists, enhancing their work, rather than serving as the primary source of information.
“Instead of telling AI to generate report, input your own data, in that way, you have guided AI. You can also command the device to “generate that data for me” or “generate a story out of this for me.” He stated
Contributing to the discourse, one of the facilitators, Mr. Odinaka Anudu highlighted common pitfalls in data gathering and offered best practices for energy reportage.
Mr. Anudu advised journalists to move beyond surface-level coverage and prioritize in-depth analysis, ensuring that the public receives accurate, context-rich information.
Reaffirming the media’s duty as the fourth estate, he insisted that news narratives must remain fundamentally people-centered.
“If you have not learnt how to interpret financial statements and other statistics, you will become a better journalist” Anudu stated
In his remarks, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for Chevron Nigeria Limited, Dr. Soga Oduselu, called for sustained relationships with exploration host communities, built on mutual respect.
The Communications chief, who was represented by the Communications Manager, Dr. Victor Anyaegbudike stressed that stakeholders in the energy sector must prioritize engaging grassroots populations, noting that sustainable community development hinges on listening to and addressing the needs of local micro-communities.
He noted that ” Energy Correspondents are very important partners who have been promoting transparency, accountability and information dialogue in issues that relates to the oil and gas industry.
“Your contribution has helped not only to deepen public understanding of our opportunities but also showcase some of the challenges that we have in the energy industry.”
Earlier, in a welcome address, NAEC chairman, Mr. Ugo Amadi said the training underscored a collective resolve to balance technological innovation with unwavering professional ethics, all in the service of national unity and enrich public discourse.
