Journalists covering elections have been urged to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), strengthen critical thinking skills and adopt innovative storytelling techniques to produce impactful reports that enable citizens to make informed electoral decisions.
The advice was given by media trainer and journalism veteran Mr. Taiwo Obe during a presentation at a media capacity-building programme organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGN II) project.
The training, organised as part of Component 4 (Support to Media) of the EUSDGN II project, seeks to strengthen the media for fair, accurate, ethical and inclusive reporting of electoral processes while preparing journalists for professional coverage of the forthcoming Osun State Governorship Election.
Addressing participants, Obe stressed that while AI has become an indispensable newsroom tool, journalists’ greatest asset remains their ability to think critically.
“Everything in this presentation has been done using AI, but the most important tool every journalist has is the brain. It is your thinking ability that separates you from everyone else,” he said.
According to him, journalists must continuously sharpen their analytical skills because technology can only complement, not replace, sound editorial judgement.
Drawing from his experience at ThisWeek magazine, Obe recalled that newsroom recruitment focused more on applicants’ ability to think on their feet than on academic qualifications.
“The question was never what degree you had. The question was: Can you think? What can you do? Your thinking ability is what makes you different,” he said.
Obe reminded participants that journalism’s primary responsibility is to provide citizens with the information they need to make sound decisions about their communities and government.
He criticised what he described as “megaphone journalism,” where reporters merely reproduce politicians’ statements without scrutiny or verification.
According to him, journalists have a duty to interrogate public officials’ claims instead of simply reporting them as facts.
“Our job is not to repeat whatever politicians say. If a public official makes a claim, it is your responsibility to verify it and provide the necessary context for citizens,” he stated.
Obe urged reporters to move beyond routine event coverage by producing explanatory stories that help audiences understand the significance of issues affecting governance and elections.
He encouraged journalists to embrace formats such as explainers, listicles, data-driven reports and collaborative investigations, noting that these storytelling approaches attract greater audience engagement and improve public understanding.
He also advised journalists to repurpose stories into multiple digital formats rather than publishing only conventional news reports.
According to him, a single report can generate several follow-up products, including “10 key takeaways,” background explainers and visual presentations that deepen public understanding.
The media expert further urged journalists to integrate AI tools into their daily workflow to improve speed and efficiency.
He explained that AI can summarise lengthy documents, identify key issues, extract data and assist reporters in analysing complex reports without replacing editorial responsibility.
Obe also encouraged journalists to explore mapping tools such as Google Earth and Google Street View to enrich stories with location-based visuals and context instead of relying on generic photographs.
He emphasised that journalists must continually update their skills through self-development because many news organisations lack the resources to provide regular training.
“Your skills of yesterday cannot solve today’s newsroom challenges. You must continue learning because journalism is constantly evolving,” he said.
The veteran journalist equally advocated collaborative journalism, encouraging media organisations to work together on investigative and development-focused stories capable of attracting grants and creating greater public impact.
He cited a collaborative health insurance reporting project involving journalists from several states as an example of how partnerships can improve journalism while opening opportunities for funding.
Obe challenged participants to become more creative in their reporting by combining critical thinking with modern digital tools, insisting that innovative journalism remains essential to strengthening democracy and ensuring citizens receive credible information before making electoral choices.
