In many African newsrooms, artificial intelligence (AI) is still a subject of fear and worry. Will it replace journalists? Will it undermine credibility? These are questions many ask. For Nigerian journalist and trainer, Titilope Fadare, the answer is not to run from AI, but to live with it.
Through her teaching platform, Generative AI Journalism with Titi, Fadare is building a different narrative: one where African journalists don’t see AI as a threat, but as a partner in storytelling.
“AI should be seen as a tool to empower journalists, not replace them,” she told Techparley. “I wanted to create a space where African journalists can learn, in simple and practical ways, how to use AI responsibly to protect credibility, save time, and tell better stories.”
From Mobile Journalism to AI Training
Fadare’s path began in 2021, when she won a Facebook-organized fellowship on video storytelling and mobile journalism. The experience, she says, “pushed me to start teaching what I had learned.”
From there, she began training campus reporters, newsroom staff, and young journalists across Nigeria on mobile journalism and digital storytelling.
But her vision soon outgrew mobile phones. During her master’s program, she explored how Nigerian journalists were experimenting with AI. She found that there was little practical knowledge of AI in newsrooms. That gap became her mission.
“Hardly anyone was showing journalists how to actually use AI tools in their reporting, their fact-checking, or their daily newsroom workflow,” she said.
That insight laid the foundation for Generative AI Journalism with Titi, a platform designed not just to talk about AI, but to demonstrate its practical, newsroom-ready uses.
Making AI Practical for Journalists
Unlike many platforms that focus on theoretical discussions, Fadare’s approach is hands-on. On her YouTube channel, Instagram reels, and live workshops, she breaks down AI tools in detail: what they do, how they work, and where their limits lie.
“I don’t just talk about tools, I break them down step by step,” she explained. “On my YouTube channel, for example, I pick a tool, show what it can do, walk through exactly how to use it, and even explain the advantages and downsides and ways to navigate the downsides.”
From showing how ChatGPT can turn a long report into infographics, to demonstrating PODUS AI for drafting Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and Lumen5 transforming text into a short video, Fadare also teaches how to use AI transcription tool for African languages.
“I also share ready-to-use prompts so journalists can get the best results without wasting time experimenting,” she said. “Beyond tutorials, I create content that speaks directly to the pain points I know journalists face.”
Fear, Access, and Ethics of AI Adoption
Still, the path isn’t without obstacles. Fear remains a powerful force: the worry that machines will replace reporters altogether. To counter this, Fadare created her Ask ChatGPT series, where she poses journalists’ fears directly to the AI.
“It only replaces those who refuse to use it,” the chatbot once replied to a query on AI replacing journalists, a response she says disarmed skeptics.
Another challenge is access. According to her, most AI tools are designed in the West, with pricingand internet requirements far removed from African realities. To bridge this, Fadare spotlights African-built solutions like Podus AI and News Assist AI, while also highlighting free or low-cost tools.
Then there are trust and ethical risks. She says AI can hallucinate or produce errors, and journalists risk credibility if they copy blindly.
“Finally, there’s editorial resistance. Some editors still block AI in their newsrooms. I create content showing journalists how to bring their editors onboard by proving AI doesn’t lower standards but actually saves time and strengthens reporting,” she says.
While Sub-Saharan Africa records slightly lower AI adoption rates (75%) compared to global figures (83%), the region is already seeing tangible benefits. A recent PwC study shows that 56% of companies in Sub-Saharan Africa report AI has boosted employee productivity.
For trainers like Titilope Fadare, these numbers reinforce her message: AI is not a newsroom threat but a newsroom ally. According to industry experts, her work is crucial in helping African journalists translate global AI trends into locally relevant newsroom practices.
Looking Ahead
For now, Generative AI Journalism with Titi remains a passion project. She funds it herself, creating content, training journalists, and speaking at events. But she has bigger ambitions: partnerships with newsrooms, collaborations with journalism schools, and the creation of a team of trainers across Africa.
“I see Generative AI Journalism with Titi growing into something bigger than me,” she says. “I also see us expanding into journalism schools, offering modules or guest lectures that give students real-world, hands-on AI training before they even step into a newsroom.”
African journalism and technological advancement is often defined by limited resources. But for Titilope Fadare, the mission remains clear. She’s looking out for grants, partnerships, and newsroom collaborations to continually equip reporters across the continent with practical AI skills.
