Supported by Luminate
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming newsrooms globally, with African media increasingly integrating AI-driven tools into journalistic workflows. However, the rapid adoption of AI raises critical questions about its impact on gender equality in newsrooms. Women journalists in Africa already face pay disparities, unequal career advancement opportunities, and safety concerns, including harassment and violence. Without a gender-sensitive approach, AI could unintentionally reinforce these inequalities.
African Women in Media (AWiM) ensures that AI adoption in newsrooms fosters equity, inclusivity, and ethical journalism. This project seeks to investigate AI’s current and potential impact on African women journalists, generate industry-wide awareness, and provide policy recommendations and training to equip journalists with the skills necessary for AI-driven journalism.
This project will utilize a participatory action research approach, incorporating a series of listening sessions with African women journalists to gather insights into their experiences with AI. It will also engage editors and technologists currently using AI in newsrooms to assess both the intended and unintended consequences of these technologies on gender equality.
The project will generate valuable knowledge on the intersection of AI adoption and gender, ultimately leading to the creation of strategic communications products, including a short film, podcast episodes, and training modules. These resources will raise awareness, promote gender-sensitive policy changes, and upskill African women journalists on the ethical and effective use of AI in their work.
By building on previous research and aligning with AWiMâs ongoing efforts to address gender inequalities, this project will provide essential insights into how newsrooms can navigate the challenges and opportunities of AI while ensuring an inclusive and equitable environment for women in media.
Project Objectives
- Understand the gendered impact of AI in African newsrooms through stakeholder listening sessions.
- Raise awareness of AI’s impact on women journalists through strategic communications, including a short film and podcast series.
- Provide actionable guidelines to help media organizations adopt AI responsibly, considering gender equity.
- Train 25 women journalists on ethical AI use in journalism, ensuring regional representation.
Approach and Key Activities
1. Stakeholder Engagement & Research
The project will adopt a participatory action research approach, beginning with listening sessions with:
- Women journalists to understand their experiences, concerns, and perspectives on AI adoption.
- Editors, journalists, and technologistsâregardless of genderâalready use AI in newsrooms to assess its broader impact and potential unintended consequences.
2. Training & Capacity Building
- Development of three training courses on AI in journalistic production, tailored to insights from listening sessions and conference discussions.
- Training 25 women journalists on ethical AI use, ensuring diverse regional representation.
Expected Outcomes
- Industry insights on gender considerations in AI adoption for newsrooms.
- Greater awareness of how AI impacts African women journalists.
- 25 women journalists upskilled in ethical AI-driven journalism.
- Actionable guidelines for media organizations to integrate AI responsibly and equitably.
This project aims to ensure that AI adoption in African newsrooms is inclusive, ethical, and gender-sensitive by equipping journalists with research-backed insights, training, and strategic resources.
