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The management of Blueprint Newspapers Limited has warned its staff against falling into the trap of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, saying journalists who fail to identify fake materials after undergoing specialised training will be held responsible.
The newspaper’s Editorial Director, Clem Oluwole, gave the warning during a two-day intensive training on Artificial Intelligence for Newsroom Efficiency and Editorial Integrity organised by the management in Abuja.
Oluwole said the training was aimed at equipping journalists with the skills to distinguish genuine pictures, videos and other materials from AI-generated and manipulated content before publication.
He warned that the organisation would no longer tolerate avoidable errors capable of undermining its credibility, particularly after providing staff with the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills.
“After this programme, anyone that falls into AI trap will be on his own,” he said.
Oluwole explained that the training was prompted by an incident in which the newspaper published a photograph of President Bola Tinubu that was later discovered to be AI-generated.
According to him, the incident put the organisation in a bad light and underscored the need for journalists to be more vigilant in verifying materials before using them in their reports.
He described AI as a double-edged sword that could improve newsroom efficiency but also be exploited to spread misinformation and compromise editorial integrity.
The Editorial Director said the growing use of AI was particularly concerning ahead of the 2027 general elections, when manipulated images and other fabricated content could pose challenges to the media.
“Without integrity, we will not be in business,” Oluwole said, adding that the newspaper was committed to ensuring that its publications remained credible and could withstand public scrutiny.
He urged participants to take the training seriously, stressing that the management had invested resources in building their capacity and expected them to apply the knowledge acquired in their daily assignments.
Also speaking, the Associate Director and Head of Administration and Human Resources, Nuhu Sani, said the programme was organised to bridge knowledge gaps among staff in response to rapid technological developments in the media industry.
Sani said the management had engaged the facilitator to provide follow-up support to participants to ensure that the knowledge gained was effectively applied in their day-to-day activities.
He added that the programme would continue beyond the initial training, with plans to introduce further capacity-building initiatives in other professional areas.
According to him, selected participants would also be expected to transfer their knowledge to other staff members through a train-the-trainer arrangement.
The Editor, Daily, Abdulrahman A. Abdulrauf, described the training as timely, saying journalists needed to adapt to technological developments rather than allow AI to undermine their professional relevance.
He said journalists must exercise caution when handling information, including photographs, videos, audio recordings and text, to avoid publishing false or misleading materials.
Similarly, the Deputy Online Editor, Bode Olagoke, said the training would help journalists distinguish genuine photographs from AI-generated and photoshopped images, particularly amid concerns about misinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Chief Correspondent, Business, Benjamin Umuteme, said AI had become important in improving newsroom efficiency, especially in an industry where reporters often handle multiple assignments and work under tight deadlines.
The Online Editor, Ikenna Okonkwo, called for continuous learning, noting that AI tools and digital publishing practices were evolving rapidly and required journalists to update their skills regularly.
The facilitator, Monsur Hussain, an AI and innovation consultant, attributed the ineffective use of AI tools largely to gaps in knowledge and capacity.
Hussain said journalists needed to understand how AI tools worked and how to provide appropriate instructions to obtain useful results, adding that the technology should complement human intelligence rather than replace critical thinking.
He put participants’ average performance at about five out of 10 in an AI literacy assessment conducted during the training.
He urged participants to revisit the lessons, particularly those on identifying AI-generated content, to improve their ability to detect manipulated materials.
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