MMCDC equips maritime journalists with AI tools

The Maritime Media and Capacity Development Centre (MMCDC), a capacity enhancement arm of First Mediacon Network Limited, has organised a one-day executive training programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for maritime journalists in Lagos.

Addressing participants at the event in Lagos, Chairman, MMCDC and Publisher of the Shipping Position Daily Newspaper, Mr Sesan Onileimo, said the training and its initiatives were designed by the centre to help maritime journalists learn how to use AI tools to gather, verify, and write their stories perfectly in the newsrooms and beyond.

According to Onileimo, “We cannot afford to remain spectators in a technological revolution that is reshaping the journalistic profession, as the future of journalism requires them to combine professional experience with technological competence, sound judgment, and ethical responsibility.”

The programme, he said, came at a critical moment, when technology is transforming the way news is gathered, processed, verified, and disseminated by professional journalists across the globe.

He emphasised the need for human oversight at every stage where AI is used to avoid libel-based errors, misleading interpretations or fabricated details, and urged the participants to equip themselves to respond to these challenges.

Highlighting the relevance of the training and its significance for maritime journalists, said the nation’s maritime industry plays a strategic role in international trade, port operations, shipping, logistics, employment and economic development, and that reporting these activities “requires specialised knowledge and the ability to interpret complex technical, regulatory and economic issues.

READ ALSO: Lagos traders protest alleged Chinese expansion into retail business

“For instance, when reporting on port performance, journalists may need to examine cargo throughput, vessel turnaround time, operational costs and other indicators. AI can assist in organising and analysing such information, while journalists verify these figures and provide the necessary context for an interesting and fact-based report,” he noted.

“These capabilities can encourage more analytical, evidence-based and investigative reporting on Nigeria’s maritime sector. Nevertheless, the credibility of our reports must never depend solely on information generated by AI.”

Onileimo stated that the Executive Training Programme was part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of our parent company – First Mediacom Network Limited.

He thanked Mr Emmanuel Maiguwa, the CEO of Brooks Training Institute, for availing the centre the use of its facilities, at no cost.