As part of its media capacity-building initiative, Polaris Bank Limited, Nigeria’s leading digital retail commercial bank, has empowered more than 5,000 journalists across the country through its annual workshops in the last 10 years.
“Integrating AI Tools in Contemporary Media Practices for Innovation and Excellence” was the theme of the 2024 edition of the media workshop, which took place on Thursday in a hybrid format attended by the Managing Editor of Persecondnews, Ayodele Akinsola.
The physical meeting took place at Ikeja GRA.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, Head of Brand Management and Corporate Communications at Polaris Bank, said the bank would continue to provide its unwavering support for journalists and the media as a vital pillar of society.
“We believe that journalists and the media play crucial roles in shaping public discourse and fostering informed citizenship.
“Our commitment to training journalists across the media spectrum is rooted in our belief that they (journalists) deserve the best possible support to excel in their profession,” he said.
Bolarinwa said the bank started the media training by partnering with a journalism clinic and holding workshops in various cities across the country.
Mr. Taiwo Obe, a veteran journalist, facilitated the media clinic, which focused on media divination.
Bolarinwa said more than 500 journalists registered for the 2024 edition and expressed the hope that the bank would continue to do more to support journalists and the media by bringing the best faculty to facilitate contemporary issues at its subsequent media workshops.
The programme featured a range of topics, which included creativity, AI tools, and critical thinking.
Dr. Chike Mgbeadichie, a senior lecturer at the Pan-Atlantic University, provided insights into the application of AI tools in media practices, while Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, discussed contemporary media trends such as multimedia journalism, fact-checking, and data journalism.
Mgbeadichie said that at the end of the seminar, participants would be able to reflect deeply on thinking, actions, and processes needed to generate ideas, possibilities, and actions.
He said journalists should be able to figure out how to analyze, synthesize and evaluate information; know the different AI tools available in the media space; and understand the benefits of AI tools in contemporary media practices, among others.
Otufodunrin explained that journalists should be adept at the use of solutions journalism to enhance their investigative capabilities, using new tools such as OSINT, Geo journalism, data analysis, digital forensics, website blogs, social media, newsletters, podcasts, e-publishing, and social media engagements, among others.
Participants from across Nigeria, both online and in person, expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to enhance their skills.
Speaking on behalf of participants, Segun Adeleye, the publisher of Worldstage, an online publication, commended Polaris Bank for its continuous dedication to fostering media excellence in Nigeria, urging it to do more.
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