EXPLORING THE INTEGRATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN JOURNALISM EDUCATION AT RONGO UNIVERSITY, KENYA
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Journalism education, Rongo UniversityAbstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the global landscape of journalism, influencing processes such as training and news production. However, discussions abound over the challenges that the technology poses for journalism education, particularly in terms of ethics and quality standards. At Rongo University in Kenya, a fast-growing institution committed to innovative technology in higher education, the challenges associated with AI adoption include curricular gaps, faculty preparedness, ethical integration, and resource constraints. This study, therefore, examined the perceptions of media faculty and journalism students regarding the integration of artificial intelligence in the University’s Media and Communication Curricula. It explored the obstacles to integrating AI into journalism education, the strategies used to increase faculty capacity in AI, and how ethical and policy issues related to AI were being addressed within journalism programs. Following a qualitative research approach, the study used semi-structured interview guides to conduct in-depth interviews with 7 faculty members and 14 students who were purposively sampled. A reflexive thematic analysis of the responses revealed five key findings: (1) limited faculty proficiency in AI, highlighting the need for continuous professional development; (2) informal collaborations across departments and among students, though lacking structured institutional support; (3) fragmented curriculum integration of AI, with only partial adoption in specific courses; (4) the absence of a formal AI policy, creating uncertainty around acceptable use; (5) ethical concerns related to misinformation, authorship and intellectual property. Despite these challenges, participants acknowledged AI’s potential to improve journalism education by enabling deeper analysis, fostering collaboration, and enhancing students’ writing skills. The study recommends further training to develop AI literacy among media trainers and students, as well as the development of an AI policy to guide journalism education at Rongo University.
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