MEDIA PRACTITIONERS NEED TO BE PROACTIVE TO TAP AI ADVANTAGES TO BOOST NEWS REPORTING QUALITY

KOTA KINABALU, 7 May (Bernama) -- Media practitioners, particularly journalists in Sabah, need to be more proactive in exploring and mastering the advantages of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance creativity and improve news reporting quality while maintaining journalistic ethics.

Utusan Borneo Sabah journalist Siti Aisyah Narudin said there are many AI applications and tools that journalists can utilise to streamline their work, including for audio or video transcription and fact-checking purposes.

"AI technology is very beneficial and journalists should take advantage of this AI world to further improve their capabilities and creativity in producing news reports," she told Bernama after attending the agency’s two-day 'AI For Journalism: Transcription and Smart Tools' course here today, in which 25 local journalists attended.

Siti Aisyah, who is also Sabah Journalists Association secretary, said such courses can serve as a medium to expand AI knowledge among local media practitioners through sharing information about application methods.

The Star journalist Stephanie Lee said media practitioners must always be ready to explore every development in today's technological era, including using AI sophistication in performing their duties as it can clearly help journalists work more efficiently.

"As journalists, we must learn and keep up with current developments. We cannot reject technology but we need to use it so that it can help make work easier. It must not be misused," she said.

The Malaysia Press journalist Yenompiyaah Mabin added that media professionals must not fall behind in understanding AI and should utilise it wisely without compromising journalistic ethics, while RTM Sabah broadcast journalist Gabriel Michael Staun praised Bernama's initiative, saying the course provided valuable exposure to AI applications in journalism.

"Through this course, I've gained updated information and techniques to produce news content quickly and accurately. I hope such programs continue to empower Sabah journalists," he said.

-- BERNAMA