Project management trains staff on artificial intelligence and warns against falling into the digital trap

Management at 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 specialized training will be held accountable.

The newspaper’s Editorial Director, Clem Oluwole, raised the alarm during a two-day intensive course on Artificial Intelligence for Newsroom Efficiency and Editorial Integrity organized by the management in Abuja.

Oluwole said the training aimed to equip journalists with the skills to distinguish authentic images, videos and other materials from AI-generated and manipulated content before publication.

He warned that the organization will no longer tolerate avoidable errors that could undermine its credibility, especially after giving staff the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills.

“After this program, anyone who falls into the trap of artificial intelligence will find themselves alone,” he said.

Oluwole explained that the training was motivated by an incident where the newspaper published a photograph of President Bola Tinubu which was later found to be generated by artificial intelligence.

According to him, the incident put the organization in a bad light and highlighted the need for journalists to be more vigilant in verifying materials before using them in their reporting.

He described AI as a double-edged sword that could improve the efficiency of newsrooms but also be exploited to spread misinformation and compromise editorial integrity.

The editorial director said the growing use of artificial intelligence was particularly worrying ahead of the 2027 general election, when manipulated images and other fabricated content could pose a challenge to the media.

“Without integrity, we will not be in business,” Oluwole said, adding that the newspaper is committed to ensuring its publications remain credible and can withstand public scrutiny.

He urged participants to take the training seriously, stressing that management has invested resources in developing their skills and expects them to apply the knowledge they gain in their daily tasks.

Also speaking, Associate Director and Head of Administration and Human Resources, Nuhu Sani, said the program was organized to address knowledge gaps among staff in response to rapid technological developments in the media sector.

Sani said that the management instructed the facilitator to provide support to the participants to ensure that the knowledge gained was effectively applied in their daily activities.

He added that the program will continue beyond the initial training, with plans to introduce further capacity-building initiatives in other professional areas.

According to him, the selected participants should also transfer their knowledge to other staff members through a train-the-trainer agreement.

The Daily’s editor, Abdulrahman A. Abdulrauf, described the training as timely, saying journalists must adapt to technological developments rather than allow artificial intelligence to undermine their professional relevance.

He said journalists must be careful when handling information, including photographs, videos, audio recordings and texts, to avoid publishing false or misleading materials.

Likewise, deputy online editor, Bode Olagoke, said the training will help journalists distinguish genuine photographs from AI-generated and Photoshopped images, particularly amid concerns about misinformation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Chief Correspondent, Business, Benjamin Umuteme, said AI has become important in improving the efficiency of newsrooms, especially in an industry where journalists often handle multiple assignments and work under tight deadlines.

Online editor, Ikenna Okonkwo, called for continuous learning, stressing that artificial intelligence tools and digital publishing practices are evolving rapidly and require journalists to regularly update their skills.

The facilitator, Monsur Hussain, an AI and innovation consultant, attributed the ineffective use of AI tools largely to knowledge and capacity gaps.

Hussain said journalists need to understand how AI tools work and how to provide appropriate instructions to achieve useful results, adding that the technology should complement human intelligence rather than replace critical thinking.

It rated participants’ average performance at about five out of 10 on an AI literacy assessment conducted during the training.

He urged participants to revisit the lessons, especially those on identifying AI-generated content, to improve their ability to detect manipulated materials.