{"id":8406,"date":"2025-09-30T12:35:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T16:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cntiwpedev.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=8406"},"modified":"2026-01-14T14:21:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T19:21:55","slug":"a-window-into-ai-and-journalism-in-africa-perspectives-from-journalists-and-the-south-african-public","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cnti.org\/reports\/a-window-into-ai-and-journalism-in-africa-perspectives-from-journalists-and-the-south-african-public\/","title":{"rendered":"A Window into AI and Journalism in Africa: Perspectives from Journalists and the South African Public"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This report is the first in a series of deep dives into the data from the Center for News, Technology & Innovation<\/span><\/a> (CNTI)\u2019s global surveys of journalists<\/span><\/a> and the public<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conjunction with our partners at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development<\/span><\/a> (CJID), CNTI explored what the surveys reveal about artificial intelligence (AI)’s impact on journalism in Africa. We focused on two central questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. How do journalists in Africa feel about the relationship between journalism and technology, including AI?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. How does the South African public feel about the relationship between journalism and technology, including AI?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The emergence, continuous evolution and daily use of AI presents both opportunities and challenges for the news industry. As newsrooms adapt to new technological developments and habits, they must also stay true to journalism\u2019s mission and fundamentals. While the rise of AI-powered tools is revolutionizing storytelling, fact-che<\/span><\/a>c<\/a><\/span>king<\/span><\/a>, security<\/span><\/a> and audience engagement<\/span><\/a>, the tools\u2019 associated ethical dilemmas<\/span><\/a>, increased accessibility of spyware and government surveillance<\/span><\/a> that use AI and rampant misinformation<\/span><\/a> are persistent issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To answer our two questions, we pull from two separate studies which reflect distinct pools of people. Our global survey of journalists included more than 100 journalists across Africa. Our public survey included a representative sample of the South African public. In both studies, we asked about attitudes towards and uses of technology as a whole \u2014 including several questions specifically focused on AI. As with all CNTI research, this report was prepared by the research and professional staff of CNTI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    <\/path><\/svg><\/span> Why We Did These Studies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    The Center for News, Technology & Innovation<\/span><\/a> (CNTI), with its partners at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development<\/span><\/a> (CJID), is interested in exploring how AI is impacting journalism throughout Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We revisited data from our surveys of journalists<\/span><\/a> across the globe and the public in four countries<\/span><\/a> to speak to this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How we did these studies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Journalists: CNTI partnered with journalism organizations in several continents to share the survey with their memberships. Surveys are a snapshot of what people think at a particular moment in time. These data were collected between October 14, 2024 and December 1, 2024, which means they highlight the perspective of journalists around the world during that time frame. These data reflect the responses collected from 433 journalists across 63 countries, including 109 journalists in 17 African countries. More details on the survey of journalists are available in its \u201cAbout this study<\/span><\/a>\u201d page and full questions and results are available in its topline<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Public: In partnership with Langer Research Associates, CNTI collected data from a probability sample in South Africa (N<\/em> = 1,012) conducted between September 23 and October 16, 2024 as part of a larger four-country survey<\/span><\/a>. The sample was weighted to be nationally representative using demographic variables (i.e., age, sex, education and macroregion). More details on the survey of the public are available in its \u201cAbout this study<\/span><\/a>\u201d page and full questions and results are available in its topline<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For more details, see \u201cAbout these studies<\/span><\/a>\u201d and full questions and results in the South African public<\/span><\/a> and African journalist toplines<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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    Part I: What Journalists in Africa Think about Technology<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Between October 14, 2024 and December 1, 2024, CNTI surveyed 433 journalists from 63 different countries. This report focuses on respondents based in Africa, including 75 in Nigeria and 34 in other African countries (N = 109). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This data finds journalists in Africa to be more optimistic than journalists in the rest of the world about the impacts of technological developments \u2014 including AI and social media \u2014 on enabling journalists\u2019 work and an informed public. They are also more likely to have incorporated technological tools into their work to do things like summarize or analyze documents and enhance their writing. Compared to journalists in other regions, journalists in Africa are more likely to report that their news organizations are transparent with audiences about the use of technology, especially when it is used to check accuracy or improve their writing. Still, similar to journalists around the world, they believe news organizations should pay as much attention as they currently do \u2014 or more \u2014 to the opportunities and risks AI presents to the news industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Journalists in Africa are overwhelmingly using digital technology for information gathering, communicating with sources and reaching their audiences<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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