“AI can never take the place of journalism”

Former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and CEO of Ram Media Consult, Affail Monney, has stressed that while Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools have transformed the media landscape, they can never replace originality and the core principles of journalism.

Speaking on the maiden edition of Off the Lens on Onlinetimesgh’s YouTube channel, Mr. Monney recounted the ordeals journalists faced decades ago, when reporting was cumbersome due to the absence of modern equipment.

He recalled one such day when he covered the visit of late Libyan President, Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi to the late President Jerry John Rawlings, narrating how he had to move from the airport to the mosque, then to the University of Ghana, and later to the Castle, rushing back and forth to GBC to file multiple reports.

“I slept in the GBC studios just to meet deadlines. You could see the hurdles a journalist went through to file a story, all because we were shackled by the absence of modern equipment,” he said.

Contrasting the past with the present, Affail Monney praised the impact of digitalization, particularly the use of mobile phones, internet connectivity, and AI, which have eased live reporting and improved efficiency. However, he warned that convenience should not breed mediocrity among journalists.

“Digitalization, like AI, has come to stay, but AI can never take the place of originality. Please be original. Learn the rudiments of this profession, the principles which underpin it, and the foundational values that make journalism what it is,” he cautioned.

He added that while technology should be embraced as a tool to enhance journalistic work, it must never replace the integrity, creativity, and authenticity required in the profession.

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