AI is rewriting journalism and crisis communication: what writers need to know
At the Annual Campus Journalism Awards, PRNigeria's publisher, Yushau A. Shuaib, gave a clear message: use AI, but don't outsource your judgment. The future belongs to writers who run digital tools with transparency, keep their ethics intact, and verify everything.
He traced the shift from the unregulated publishing of the internet era to social platforms chasing algorithms. Now AI is telling stories about us-sometimes with bias, hallucinations, and deepfakes in the mix. "Today, technology giants harvest our behaviour and preferences. The user has become the product, not a participant," he warned.
What AI already does well for writers
- Drafting, brainstorming, summarising, transcription, and translation-faster and cleaner than legacy tools.
- Multi-platform output for copy that needs to live on web, social, and newsletters.
- Quicker data checks: sentiment reads, trend spotting, and early signal detection for issues monitoring.
Students and young writers report that tools like ChatGPT, Meta AI, Google Gemini, and Copilot now sit at the core of content creation. Many say deadlines feel more manageable and processes simpler.
The trust gap
Shuaib's recent studies show expanding AI use across organisations, but uneven skill levels. Many teams deploy tools without clear training, and a lot of users aren't sure what these systems can actually do-or where they fail.
More than 51% of communication professionals still don't trust AI-generated crisis alerts because of deepfakes, synthetic voices, and manipulated visuals. That hesitation is healthy; credibility collapses when accuracy slips.
What students are missing (and want)
- Most rely on AI for tactical help, not strategic tasks like risk forecasting or crisis modelling.
- Deeper literacy is thin: fact-checking, ethical use, and prompt engineering are common gaps.
- Universities lag behind. Many haven't integrated AI into curricula, pushing students to learn on their own.
- There's strong demand for courses on critical thinking, digital ethics, and verification.
Use AI. Keep your standards higher.
"AI must not undermine the credibility that communication relies upon," Shuaib stressed. That starts with simple guardrails you can apply immediately.
- Disclose AI assistance when it materially shapes content. If in doubt, flag it.
- Never paste private or sensitive data into public models. Use secure, enterprise options where possible.
- Keep prompts, sources, and decisions in a workflow log for accountability.
- Run every AI claim through independent verification before publication.
Field-tested verification workflow for writers
- Names, dates, numbers: confirm with at least two primary sources.
- Images/video: check metadata, run reverse image/video searches, and compare frames.
- Audio: be skeptical of "too perfect" clips; look for artifacts common to synthetic voices.
- Context: ask, "Who benefits if this is true?" Then verify with a neutral source.
- Ethics: cross-check your work against the SPJ Code of Ethics.
- For complex cases, consult the free Verification Handbook.
AI for crisis communication: where it fits-and where it doesn't
- Use AI to monitor signals, sort reports, and draft holding statements fast.
- Do not let AI decide severity or publish unvetted alerts.
- Institute human sign-off for anything public-facing.
- Maintain a single source of truth and time-stamped updates.
- Track rumors, label speculation clearly, and correct errors publicly and quickly.
Smart prompts that save edits
- Role + task: "You are a copy editor. Tighten this 400-word brief to 220 words. Keep quotes. No new facts."
- Constraints: "Write for newsroom Slack. 8 sentences max. Bullets ok. No hype."
- Factual guardrails: "Cite sources for every claim. If uncertain, say 'unclear' and list what needs verification."
- Style transfer: "Rewrite to AP style. Preserve original meaning and sequence."
Risks you can't ignore
- Plagiarism and model regurgitation-especially with generic prompts.
- Over-reliance that dulls original thinking.
- Privacy leaks from pasting sensitive material into public tools.
- Algorithmic bias leading to skewed framing or source selection.
Several students admitted constant AI use can weaken creativity and reduce genuine engagement. That's a signal to keep daily writing reps, not an excuse to ditch the tech.
Skills that don't go out of style
- Curiosity: ask better questions and test AI outputs like a fact-checker.
- Critical thinking: separate claims from evidence before you publish.
- Creativity: unique angles still win. Use AI to stretch options, not to settle.
- Discipline: meet deadlines and build consistent writing routines.
- Crisis management: move fast, verify faster, communicate clearly.
- Collaboration and networking: relationships aren't automatable.
- Time management: schedule focus blocks for human work, batch AI-assisted tasks.
On regulation, Shuaib noted concerns around privacy breaches, job losses, reduced empathy, and the need for mandatory disclosure when AI contributes to content creation. Stronger policies and better digital literacy will help ensure AI improves communication-rather than weakening it.
He put it plainly: the real question isn't what technology can do, but what we allow it to do. Use AI for fact-checking, drafting, verification, and cross-platform publishing-under steady human oversight.
Who backed the message
The event theme, "AI and the Future of Journalism," drew support from leaders across media, civil society, and government, including representatives of the Minister of State for Education; Voice of Nigeria; News Agency of Nigeria; Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre; Amnesty International; Nigeria Customs Service; News Central TV; former Army spokesperson Brigadier General S.K. Usman; Leadership Newspapers; Image Merchants; AANI; NOA; NIPR; and NFIU.
Next step for writers
Keep your edge: tighten your verification workflow, set clear AI rules, and train up on prompts and ethics. If you want structured options, explore practical tools for writers here: AI tools for copywriting.
AI can make you faster. Your judgment is what makes you credible.
Your membership also unlocks:
