Journalists in Kericho County have been challenged to raise the bar in professionalism and embrace emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Speaking at Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) conference hall in Kericho during the World Press Freedom Day celebrations, which drew journalists to reflect on the state of press freedom and the challenges brought about by the digital age, Gideon Kikwai, Secretary General of the Kericho Press Club, underscored the vital role of ethical journalism in an age dominated by digital transformation. "AI holds the potential to enhance journalistic work by detecting patterns and generating reports at unprecedented speeds, but it also raises serious concerns, including misinformation, photo manipulation, biased algorithms, surveillance, and threats to editorial independence," Kikwai said.
Kikwai further pointed out that artificial intelligence is reshaping the face of journalism from how news is gathered, facts are verified, and content is distributed, to how audiences engage with stories.
Meanwhile, Kericho County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture ,Livestock and Fisheries, Magerer Langat, reaffirmed the county government's commitment to fostering a strong and transparent relationship with the media.
