Why AI Can't Take The Job Of Journalist

•New Central TV CEO, KAYODE AKINTEMI

Kayode Akintemi, CEO of News Central TV, is a seasoned journalist whose career spans decades across radio and television. Known for his unwavering commitment to the craft of journalism, Akintemi has earned a reputation as a meticulous storyteller who prefers to work behind the scenes rather than in the spotlight. In an exclusive presentation, he shared his insights on the evolving nature of journalism, the ethical dilemmas posed by social media, and the limitations of artificial intelligence in the newsroom.

“When Bodex told me she wanted me to speak, my first question was, ‘About what?’” Akintemi began. “Going out is not my thing. Being at events is just not my thing. I’m a journalist. I just like to tell the story. I like to manage my team and stay in my own lane.”

Akintemi is known for his disciplined work ethic. “Anybody who wants to learn has got to come and be a part of my team. I will share knowledge there, but not anywhere else. For that reason, I normally don’t go out. I don’t attend weddings, parties, or social events. I just like to be in the office, morning till night.”

Reflecting on the old days of journalism, he said, “Those of us who learned the trade properly, like Cheyenne can testify, we were in the office all the time, sometimes 1 a.m., 2 a.m., 3 a.m. Then we would get three hours of sleep and be back at it. That was the way we worked.”

Today, Akintemi notes, the media landscape has dramatically shifted. “The world has changed. Things have become so different now. I will try not to dwell too much on the history of this change but rather talk about the change itself and the future of journalism.”

News Central TV, under his leadership, has leveraged digital platforms to expand its reach. “News Central is on channel 422 on DSTV, channel 23 on GoTV, and on StarTimes. But the key thing is, you can watch us on any of the social media platforms. There is no way you will not find us streaming live.”

He proudly shared a milestone. “We are the first and only pan-African news television station whose live stream on Twitter has reached over a million viewers. But the way Twitter works these days is so unpredictable. The algorithms constantly change, and sometimes even when you hit a major milestone, it drops. Then the viewers start counting again, 3,000, 5,000, 10,000, up to 120,000.”

Akintemi’s address focused on redefining journalism and the ethical dilemmas created by social media. “Today, information is no longer simply reported. It is produced, multiplied, embellished, reshaped, and in some cases, weaponized at a speed humanity has never experienced before. Social media has become the largest newsroom on earth. Anywhere you turn, anywhere you have a mobile phone, social media works. Every story you want to see is there.”

He emphasized the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. “AI has completely changed the dynamics. In this new reality, we must confront an uncomfortable truth. Many people today live in a world where each person’s truth is different. Social media has broken the gatekeeping wall that once separated verified information from speculation.”

Akintemi recalled the days when editors, known as gatekeepers, determined what stories were worth publishing. “In my early career, before I even turned seven, we had gatekeepers. Editors decided which stories would be published online, in newspapers, or on radio and television. Today, no editor can claim the authority to reign supreme. A 17-year-old can tell a story that goes viral, and a 22-year-old can edit a story, some might call it fake news, and it spreads uncontrollably. People of 60 or 70 years read it and accept it as truth.”

He continued, “This is why we must redefine what we call journalism. Many people who have no business being journalists now claim the title. And it is not their fault entirely. Society has yet to define the difference between someone who goes out and gathers information and someone who aggregates content from social media, adds embellishments, and presents it as news.”

The CEO provided a real-world example of the risks and responsibilities of journalism. “My reporter went to Baku, in Kenya State, to cover a story. No AI can do what he did. He was there, reporting live, while I stayed on the phone with him until 2 a.m. He practically wept because of what he witnessed. There were human beings whose heads had been cut off and hung on a tree. The level of evil he saw cannot be conveyed by AI. Journalism is sometimes about putting your life at risk to bring the truth to the public responsibly.”

He highlighted the challenges of reporting in dangerous environments. “We sent a reporter to KB State. The road to Eruku, where the incidents happened, was dangerous. Bandits had taken over the road. Any driver attempting that route risked being kidnapped. Yet, a journalist ventured there to deliver the story.”

Akintemi pointed to the fragmentation of truth in today’s digital landscape. “Truth is being diluted because of AI and social media. Deep fakes blur the line between reality and perception. Misleading edits travel faster than context. Audiences overwhelmed by the volume of content can no longer distinguish journalism from noise. This makes the role of journalists even more essential. We must report facts, interpret them, verify them, and protect them from distortion.”

He recalled the guiding principles from his early career. “We were taught not to interpret, only to report, to avoid subjectivity. But today, journalists must go beyond reporting. They must interpret responsibly as part of their duty to society.”

Akintemi questioned accountability in the digital age. “When algorithms choose what goes viral, who is held accountable? If a story is incomplete, should we blame the journalist, or the person who shared it, or the algorithm? Platforms often hide behind opaque systems. Newsrooms struggle to keep up, and audiences receive curated versions of reality without realizing it.”

He shared a personal anecdote to illustrate the ethical dilemmas of AI. “I have a 23-year-old daughter, a lawyer, who once asked me about an AI-generated claim that Christians are more likely to go to heaven than others. She said, ‘Daddy, AI tells you what you want to hear.’ And that is exactly the point. AI gives you patterns, predictions, and content, but it cannot determine what is fair, just, or in the public interest. It cannot weigh consequences or uphold ethics.”

Akintemi emphasized the irreplaceable role of journalists. “AI can draft stories, create images, mimic voices, and even write captions. But it cannot understand context, accountability, or harm. It cannot carry responsibility. At the heart of journalism must remain the human being, the one who weighs the consequences of publishing, who recognizes the difference between accuracy and misinformation, and who understands the cultural context behind every story.”

He warned that social media users also have responsibilities. “What exactly do you search for online? How much fact-checking do you do before sharing content? Just because you did not write it does not mean you are absolved. Sharing misinformation contributes to the problem. Everyone who interacts with information must recognize their role.”

Akintemi concluded with a call to ethical action. “Ethical dilemmas exist with social media, AI, and algorithms. Platforms are not just Twitter or Facebook. Each one of us has influence, and we must ask ourselves, how do we hold platforms accountable for misinformation they amplify? How do we prevent AI-generated content from eroding public trust? The responsibility lies with journalists, society, and every individual engaging with content.”

Kayode Akintemi’s address underscored the enduring need for human judgment, responsibility, and ethics in journalism. Despite the rise of AI and social media, he argued convincingly that technology cannot replace the human element, the core of storytelling, investigation, and accountability in journalism.

By Benprince Ezeh

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