Perception of Lagos State University Students on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism

Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies has become essential within the media industry, especially in the field of journalism. These technologies have revolutionized the processes of news creation, curation, and dissemination, presenting various advantages including heightened efficiency, enhanced personalization, and increased audience engagement. However, not many studies have been carried out to understand students' perception of the role of AI in journalism. Hence, this study seeks to examine the perception of Lagos State University students on the role of Artificial Intelligence AI in journalism. The study population comprised of undergraduates from the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Lagos State University. The study was anchored on the Technological Determinism Theory. The descriptive survey research design was adopted and the Taro Yamane formula was used to calculate a sample size of 278 respondents. Questionnaires served as the instrument of data collection and data was analyzed using frequency tables and simple percentages. Findings showed AI plays a pivotal role in journalism by automating news writing, producing high quality articles and efficiently generating news report. Results also showed that high cost associated with implementing AI tools, inadequate internet infrastructure is recognized and the shortage of skilled professionals who can manage AI tools also poses a substantial challenge to the integration of AI in journalism practices in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study concluded that undergraduates in Lagos state university perceive Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a veritable tool which can provide insurmountable value in the journalism profession.