Shifting Imageries: Artificial Intelligence and Journalism in African Legacy Media

In newsrooms of the past, legacy media (Newspaper, Radio and Television) journalists and producers were jacks of all trades. Their multifaceted approach was inherently present in their dedication to telling an objective story and acting as the voice of the voiceless. The traditional journalist went through analogic, ethical, and human processes to produce a good story. They were voicepieces to the camera, sounds behind the narrative, fingers on the keyboard, faces on the screen. The newsroom operations fully relied on these human figures to deliver the stories and keep the audience informed. This image of how we understood journalism is quickly shifting with the entry of Artificial Intelligence-aided news production. In the African context, technological advancements have progressed in a couple of decades. But during the last ten years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has greatly impacted and advanced technological processes. Leading this wave are China and the United States, both of which are advancing at a strong but different rate. Therefore, understanding the dominant attitudes and practices surrounding AI on Chinese social media is crucial to understanding how AI will develop going forward (Xinhuanet 2019). As a check on political power and a significant influencer of public opinion throughout history, the media has been referred to as the "fourth pillar" (Chen 2013). However, as technology advances, the media enters a new era marked by the digital dissemination of information and the fusion of multiple media formats. With the use of artificial intelligence (AI) synthetic anchors and 5G connectivity, AI technology is becoming more and more prevalent in a variety of industries, including the media. Even with AI's advancements in media production, it will be difficult for technology to fully replace human hosts/journalists in virtual environments due to the highly involved and demanding nature of media labor. Through a systematic literature review of global media landscapes, the paper will explore the juxtaposition of old imageries in the African newsroom and AI-imposed imaginings. The paper looks at the value system of the traditional human newsreaders/producers as well as the tactics media practitioners must apply to deal with the effects of AI-driven advancements. It highlights how AI is changing the media industry and how important it is to raise the level of proficiency among media professionals.