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Her Media Diary Episode 38: “AI Integration in Newsroom Operations” with Ruth Butaumocho
2 Plays1 minute ago
Ruth Butaumocho is an award-winning Zimbabwean journalist, gender, and development trainer with over 25 years of media experience.
She is also the Managing Editor of The Herald Newspaper in Zimbabwe.
As a journalist, Ruth has dedicated over a decade to gender reporting, using her platform to highlight the issues faced by women in Zimbabwe. Her personal experiences with domestic violence have fueled her passion for advocating for gender equality and empowering women through her writing.
Ruth's insights serve as a reminder of the resilience and determination required to navigate this ever-changing landscape. Her journey is not just about personal success; it's about paving the way for future generations of journalists, especially women, to thrive in an industry that often presents barriers.
Subscribe to Her Media Diary now on your favourite podcasting platform https://linktr.ee/hermediadiary
Learn about African Women in Media at https://africanwomeninmedia.com
List of Organisations/Resources to Support Women in Media
· International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)
· African Women in Media (AWiM)
· Public Media Women in Leadership
· International Journalists’ Network (IJNet)
· Media Career Development Network
Recommended
Transcript
Adapting to Technological Change
00:00:07
Speaker
A few years ago, was a technological dinosaur. I look at my laptop. I wouldn't even know how to do things. i would be asked to do a presentation. I wouldn't know which, but then realized I was being left behind. behind You know, a lot of things are happening. So it becomes very important for people to adapt quickly to the fourth revolution and and the change that it's bringing. And all of the things that you also need to embrace is the digital storytelling and also how then do we fine tune it and make it better. So I think it becomes crucial for all the media houses that are worth their sold that still want to generate revenue, to migrate to the positive spin-offs that comes out as a result of the fourth revolution, which is brought about things like AI.
00:00:51
Speaker
It is very important for newsroom to invest in the tools of trade, which are amenable to the changes that you want to see. So yeah, the time is now to adopt innovation technologies have been brought about mygie
00:01:07
Speaker
by AI.
Introducing 'Her Media Diary' with Dr. Yemisi Akimbo Bola
00:01:09
Speaker
Imagine a world where we have gender equality and equity in and through media. That is our work at African Women in Media. I'm Dr. Yemisi Akimbo Bola. And this is Her Media Diary, the podcast that captures the lived experiences of African women working in media industries.
00:01:26
Speaker
In this episode, I am joined by Ruth Butemucho, an award-winning Zimbabwean journalist, gender and development trainer with over 25 years of media experience. As a journalist, Ruth has dedicated over a decade to gender reporting, using a platform to highlight the issues facing women in Zimbabwe.
00:01:46
Speaker
Her personal experiences with domestic violence have fueled her passion for advocating for gender equality and empowering women through
Challenges in Newsroom Technology Adoption
00:01:53
Speaker
writing. She discusses the challenges and opportunities that come with adopting new technologies in newsrooms, emphasizing the importance of digital transformation and staying in relevance. Throughout this series, we'll be in conversation with African women who have redefined media sustainability through their various capacities.
00:02:13
Speaker
By inviting these voices into conversation, we hope to provide solutions to break down barriers faced by African women in media industries.
Ruth Butemucho: A Career in Media
00:02:33
Speaker
Thank you so much for joining me on this ah conversation, and Ruth. ah Just for our listeners, we've had a few trial and errors before we could this platform going. So I'm really pleased that it's able to happen.
00:02:50
Speaker
um so thank you. Ruth, you're a prominent Zimbabwean journalist with decades, decades of experience in media. And I'm really eager to hear about your journey because you're You're serving as managing editor of The Herald. You've had over 10 years experience as a gender editor.
00:03:09
Speaker
So there's so much for us to kind of catch up on. And you're also the current vice president of the Media Institute of Southern Africa. Mr. The Zimbabwean Chapter as well and recognized through several awards, including the CNN Multi-Joyce Awards. so yes So it's really a pleasure to have you here. Thank you, Doctor. Now, but before we get into all of those accomplishments, you do know that I like to start with getting to know my guests and thinking about your early years. Yes, yes, yes. So it'd be really great to hear your background. Who's who' Ruth? What but do we need to know about you that we can't find on Google? Yes.
00:03:46
Speaker
Okay, so Ruth is a mother of two lovely daughters, ah born and bred here in Zimbabwe. And I grew up with my dad in the urban city. My mother used to stay in the rural areas. Things were really tight then, so we could not all afford to stay in the city.
00:04:02
Speaker
So my major inspiration in my life was my dad. ah He made me realize that for me, education was very important. So as I navigated my way through primary school, secondary, I knew really how important the education was.
00:04:16
Speaker
So, um my my my father was the biggest influence is now late now. So, most of the things that I'm practicing today as a result of the strong foundation that I got from my father, he was the biggest inspiration in my life.
00:04:31
Speaker
So, was that in Harare? Yes, that was in Harare. I did my primary, secondary and tertiary education in Harare. staying in one of the highest high identity suburbs called Mufakose.
00:04:44
Speaker
I'm sure it during those formative years that I realized how important it was to really achieve my aspirations dreams and move away and attain a better life for myself.
00:04:55
Speaker
Yeah. So, but you mentioned earlier later on that your mom was in a separate environment to you. and So can you give us some context to that? Okay. So I'm sure you appreciate that the most ah people in Zimbabwe say survive on subsistence farming.
00:05:12
Speaker
So my father was employed in the industrial area as a spray painter. Naturally, I was not earning enough to sustain myself and my siblings.
00:05:23
Speaker
As a result, my mother had to confine herself in the rural areas where she would partake in in agriculture and do other things to sustain my father's salary. So that has always been the setup even up to this day.
00:05:35
Speaker
She has always lived in the rural areas. And once in a while, go to the rural areas during the holiday. Well, she also actually managed to emphasize to me how important education was to me.
00:05:47
Speaker
um But well let me just say um yeah how important education was to me. she She went as far as what is called standard six. she's She's just an ordinary basic housewife. So she really also wanted me to attain the best in life. So ah what was, i mean, you've talked about the influence your dad had on you, but also, I guess your mom, in many ways, even if she wasn't physically there with you guys in Harare, there was that influence as well, right? Tell me more about that.
00:06:15
Speaker
Yeah, so I think both of them are really eager to get, to have me get a good education. But above everything else, I'm sure for my dad, my dad really wanted me to focus much more on from school. I do have a disability, by the I've got polio.
00:06:30
Speaker
on my right leg so i should really say your first husband is your education but so on the other hand my mother also uh aspirations that is a point in time i'll settle down get married and also get a good job so i think um collectively both of them really played a part in who i became to to this day tell me about your journey with polio your experiences Okay, so for me, I got to appreciate discrimination at a very ah young
Overcoming Personal Challenges and Education
00:06:59
Speaker
age. know um Like I said, I went into a high-dentity school primary where I think most of the kids then were aborted.
00:07:07
Speaker
I'm sure it was like a novel um situation in my community because I think um among my peers, i among the people that I went to school with, I was probably the um one person was disabled, but come to think of it, Dr. Yemisi, it never really demotivated me. If anything, i considered it as it as an advantage.
00:07:25
Speaker
That inasmuch I was not able to to run when it was raining, inasmuch as I was not able to take part in sport, but I knew then my strength was in academia. This is when I really learned to really um curate my journey towards what I wanted to do.
00:07:42
Speaker
So although I could not run and play with any other kids of my age, at least i was able to succeed in class. And succeeding in class, I did. was from grade one to grade seven.
00:07:52
Speaker
I think I was attained first or second position. So much that my teacher saw that the the leadership skills in me, the academic excellence. And I remember when I finished my grade seven, I was the head graduate at school.
00:08:04
Speaker
So in as much as I really had disadvantage, but to me, again, it worked as an advantage it because I was able then to focus and concentrate on my education. All right. So clearly you've had some really, you know, interesting early years experiences. And you're telling me there about your, you know, how, for example, your disabilities with polio didn't deter you from that determination to succeed. Yes, yes, yes, yes.
00:08:28
Speaker
I'd love to hear you talk more about that. you So you see, I knew as a I was ably different from other kids. um I could tell when people would get into groups, quite less around their friends.
00:08:41
Speaker
would be left out in so many activities at school and even at home. And my parents would say, don't do this because of that. You can't dare because you're disabled. So I realized that i was my life was... um conformed to a lot of limitations. and The physical aspect of things would not be able to partake.
00:09:01
Speaker
But then I then gravitated towards things that I was capable of doing. And I realized at a very young age that I was able to organize people into groups. I would always be able to volunteer to do something. If the teacher comes in, they somebody and they want someone to wrap the board, I'll be able to volunteer. um If we didn't have a school monitor then, if they wanted someone to volunteer, i would volunteer.
00:09:25
Speaker
I realized that I was meant for saving leadership or go out of my way. And as a result, that made me stand out in front of other kids, although had disability. And come to think of it, I became a prefect as early as grade four, when people be chosen at grade five up to grade seven.
00:09:42
Speaker
So by then, in my early formative years, I knew how to become, I'd already become a leader. So being disabled did not really deter me. Of course, sometimes I'd really feel low about it. When people are being chosen to go and represent your school because they were were athletes, they were in choir, I knew I wouldn't be able to be included.
00:10:02
Speaker
But then I would also focus on things that i was able to do. So as L.S. grade 4, I was now in leadership, I was now in prefect school. It did not come as a surprise when in grade seven, I was chosen to become the head girl.
00:10:16
Speaker
And because I was coming again from a very disadvantaged um family where my mother was staying in the rural areas, I didn't have the basics like other kids, what they would have. Nice shoes, such as I remember when I was being, what we call, installed to become a head girl. I didn't have a blazer, Dr. Yamis, a friend that would lend me a blazer for that particular incident.
00:10:36
Speaker
So for me, this became the rallying point for for me to do better in terms of my academics. And I developed that um ability to look within myself when i had problems.
00:10:48
Speaker
Because I knew i was different from other kids, so other kids wouldn't really understand. wouldn't understand when it was raining that I would not be able to run when it was raining. So from January to December, always be prepared with either small umbrella or a raincoat because I knew I needed to come up with inside solutions for my situation.
00:11:06
Speaker
Wow. So you're really taking kind of control of your circumstances, yes right? In the face of, you know, what otherwise would have been, i mean, you were experiencing some form of discrimination, even then you were very resilient, right? I suppose all of those demonstration of finding your solutions, taking leadership, you know, contributed to then eventually in the year that you were then selected as prefect, etc. because of those demonstrations of your abilities.
00:11:33
Speaker
How did that make you feel when you when you got to that point where the school was selecting you for such a role? It really made me proud of myself. I realized at some point that I was not useless at all. Like what people, the past perception and that people had, it made me realize that I would actually do more. And if I could only focus on things.
00:11:51
Speaker
So even when I went to do second-time school, I already knew that I had the strength in me but that like and that that other kids didn't have. I didn't have nice things, nice lunchbox.
00:12:02
Speaker
But still, there was something within me that would really make me outstanding. And I i rallied or on that, Dr. Yemiz. Even when I went through the secondary schools, again, we had a lot co-curricular activities.
00:12:14
Speaker
I focused on things that I knew wouldn't require physical strength. And one of the things that I focused on was playing chess. So I went into chess because I knew would do chess whilst I was seated.
00:12:26
Speaker
And during that time of trying to find space for myself within secondary school, I actually excelled in chess. It was one hobby or one game where there were not many girls in chess.
00:12:38
Speaker
So I really also carved my niche within that respect. And come to think of it again, so my my my leadership skills, they excelled, they went to beyond primary school. When Form 6 and 11 was doing lower 6, I was the head of the school.
00:12:53
Speaker
I was also junior counselor for the city where I was living in. So I already knew that yeah I managed to find a niche for myself. I didn't have to excel. I didn't have to try and convince people that I could do things physically. like I taught myself that physically things are not meant for me.
00:13:09
Speaker
could actually excel elsewhere and I did exactly that. right after the tertiary institution. Really interesting, really inspiring, like how you kind of turned what could have potentially be a detrimental kind of reaction to how society was taking you into a positive story of you actually, like you said, emphasizing your ability and really finding that thing that you can excel in.
00:13:32
Speaker
And your leadership is demonstrated throughout in different phases of your life. And I i suppose it's it's no surprise then that you're in the position that you're in now, right? what was What sparked that interest in journalism?
Journey into Journalism
00:13:44
Speaker
Okay. So when I was um in um primary school, one of our cousins, she's still a radio journalist. She she was a radio. Then they used to be called the red disky jockeys.
00:13:55
Speaker
They were not radio presenters. so i used to work for an educational radio station so i developed an interest and you remember remember i had already told myself that i needed to gravitate towards things that did not require physical fitness for me to to excel being a policeman was out being being a policeman or woman was out being a nurse So I realized that it actually I could actually do much better if was a radio presenter. was I had been to a workplace three or four times, I'd find a student on the desk operating a machine, and that really steered the passion within me to do journalism.
00:14:29
Speaker
So when I was in Form 3-er, there was a radio program that was being done during the school holidays where people would come in and read their novels and read their books. So she made sure that I got a slot to do poems and and and read novels throughout So I'd already you found something that i was really passionate about.
00:14:48
Speaker
I loved listening to my voice when I was on radio. My mother, the ruler, she would sit under the tree and they would say, ah, guess what? We had you on radio. And for me, that was like a starting point of making life better for myself.
00:15:01
Speaker
So by the time I finished A-level, I already knew that I wanted to become a journalist. So when I went for my tertiary education, so unfortunately I could not major in broadcasting. ah because then Zimbabwe had one radio station there and there were limited opportunities in terms of our getting internship place.
00:15:19
Speaker
And there were so many other challenges. They wanted a limited number. From our class of 30, they only wanted five people to become broadcasters. So i ended up majoring in print.
00:15:30
Speaker
That's how I ended up being a journalist. So I did print. ah for my national diploma. I did a degree in media studies, then I was doing print. I did postgrad and then eventually my masters. I then realized that I needed to venture into print with better opportunities than in broadcasting. Interesting. So for the last, over the last 10 years, you've been a gender editor.
00:15:52
Speaker
I'm really interested in in understanding. Okay. How did I become a... So, Dr. Yamis, when I started dating, I ah got myself um my boyfriend when I was in Form 3, but then the parents didn't approve it of the relationship. They didn't really think it was going to amount to anything. So as time went on, eventually got married to that guy.
00:16:15
Speaker
I was a friend of my brother. But during the course of my marriage, I experienced serious... abuse, a physical violence, this guy would beat me up, would deny me access like to my cell phone.
00:16:29
Speaker
So I started writing about trials and tribulations of what women go through in different spaces. So it it started off as a passion. i was just writing. about women.
Impact of Gender Reporting
00:16:40
Speaker
would sometimes use pseudonyms, but I'd be chronicling my own experiences, my own marriage.
00:16:46
Speaker
So my passion for writing about women grew. I would look around around me I would see there were so many women, there so many challenges. But then the structural systems within our society or the country did not allow them to fully express themselves.
00:17:01
Speaker
So my dad people would actually see me and say, guess what? Something happened to someone who you think would want write up about this. So over time, I'd written about a lot of articles. I was actually an entertainment reporter, but with the time, i was now focusing more on writing about women, you violence against women, abuse within marriages.
00:17:23
Speaker
So i when the time came, I think when there there was some kind of a structure change within the newsroom, and my editor then realized that I was passionate about gender. They decided to actually create a gender desk because of the stories, the number of stories that been written, that I'd been writing about over the years. So that's how I ended up becoming a gender agent. Let me say being a gender agent does really the most exciting times of my journalism.
00:17:49
Speaker
I got to interact with a lot of people. I'd be surprised that even the people were very empowered in terms of their professional capabilities, they also being abused in their own respective places.
00:17:59
Speaker
So that's when I left my marriage after 13 years, i was even inspired more to write about my own personal experiences. I ended up anchoring a blog called Gender Forum,
00:18:10
Speaker
So for me, gender was was a passion. It's not something like I was being played. enjoyed every moment of of of my journey as gender editor for 10 years.
00:18:22
Speaker
So I can imagine how disappointed I was when I was then transferred to another so another But it's interesting, again, I think there's a consistency in your story, though, about taking harrowing situations and turning that into something quite positive. Yes. To your own story of domestic violence and how you've been able to make that into a career that lasted for over a decade. You know, how how does how does that make you feel? And and especially you spoke there about the the support of others who have been through your danger desk and how,
00:18:57
Speaker
their personal stories kind of came into what they were doing? It really made me realize that I was doing a lot more than just doing my job. These the kind of stories I would write without even hesitation. would go beyond the normal working hours. It made me realize that it actually I had part to play.
00:19:13
Speaker
i eat For me, it was no longer just about my job. It was about self-delimitorship. Inasmuch was being paid to write about these stories, I felt had an obligation to go out there in the rural areas, identify stories.
00:19:26
Speaker
Stories that makes women cry, stories that make women smile. For me, it became like a hobby beyond my, it was just more than a job. And during the course of my interaction with women, I realized that yeah contrary to the perception that women were weak, were not capable, could not excel, they actually could do much, much more, but then they were not given opportunities, either their communities or even in political leadership.
00:19:53
Speaker
And it also made me realize that I also a part to play in ensuring that their narrative, their stories are put in public domain. And i suppose over the 25, over 25 years you've been in the industry, you've witnessed several shifts.
00:20:09
Speaker
You've talked about the own your own shifts in terms of what you've gone on to do, but How about things around technology and the adoption of ai in newsrooms compared to, you know, what has been your experience of that in that transition?
Gender and Technology Divide
00:20:21
Speaker
So my experience, again, i for me, women is my, but talking about women is my story. um I will want to look at women, Dr. Emise. I've realized that, you know, you'd be surprised that women from various sectors, whether they're in the urban or rural areas,
00:20:38
Speaker
they are likely to adopt a drug a technology faster than men, but the biggest challenge they don't have the gadgets. So in 2013, I attended one of the meetings in some rural areas outside Arari, and I saw just two women with a small smartphone.
00:20:58
Speaker
who were able to share and teach others about how to use a basic ordinary form. Some of the story inspired me to write about how technologies revolutionize the life of the ordinary women. and Women tend to gravitate more towards new inventions, but their biggest challenge is they don't have yeah the means and resources to migrate.
00:21:21
Speaker
But then when it comes to men, I've got so much respect for men, Dr. Yamis, but sometimes they tend to adapt to situations. But their biggest advantage they are equipped with the means of so resources so much that it becomes easier for them to quickly adapt to technology and make use of that.
00:21:40
Speaker
Although I would believe if things were equal, to us if we could narrow the gender divide, would like to believe women were likely to adapt to more and faster to technology than men.
00:21:57
Speaker
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00:22:28
Speaker
And it's not just about filling positions, it's about promoting diversity and inclusion in and through the media. So go to SOSA.com to discover and interview female experts across Africa. Together, let's promote adequate inclusion and representation of women in
00:22:53
Speaker
I mean, you spoke very importantly there about the issue of access i'm not and not an issue that women do not want to use these technologies, but it's an issue of access, access in a variety um of ways.
00:23:04
Speaker
But also speaking from kind of the other side of concerns around AI perpetuating other forms of bias, particularly gender bias in the newsroom, what are your reflections on these emerging technologies, especially when we're still tackling issues of access with the basics of mobile phones.
00:23:26
Speaker
What are your concerns when it comes to now this AI and other emerging technologies?
AI's Dual Impact on Newsrooms
00:23:32
Speaker
So I think when it comes to you the newsroom, for instance, I'm sure i a lot of newsrooms or maybe a lot of our media editors will agree with me when they when there was an ad, when we went into the fourth revolution, we were looking about emergence of other technologies like AI. It was a given that men were the first, male journalists were the first ah to be taken aboard, to be trained on on on use of artificial intelligence and other things.
00:23:58
Speaker
The assumption being they were likely to learn faster and improve the newsrooms. And as a result, we have heard even up to this day, many have been equipped much faster than us as female journalists in the newsroom.
00:24:12
Speaker
Companies, may in particular case, my company spent more trying to put men on different courses. But as women, we are still waiting for opportunity ah to to get access to the training course. And as a result, you realize that there's still that not only the gender divide within, there's no you already realize that.
00:24:33
Speaker
So I suppose there's there's two things for us to kind of, there's lots we can build up on this, but there's two ways in which I want to reflect on this. One in terms of the preparedness of journalists for the integration of ai and that skills gap that you're talking about. Sometimes it's not skills gap due to a lack of interest or ability, but due to the prioritization of certain men over women, for example, right?
00:24:58
Speaker
So there's that aspect. And then there's the kind of operational aspects in terms of the potential impact of AI in content, whether it's gender content and other things.
00:25:09
Speaker
So let's start with that day-to-day operations of traditional newsrooms like the Herald, right? Okay. So how do you see AI shaping the day-to-day operations of traditional newsrooms like the Herald?
00:25:21
Speaker
And are there specific areas that where AI has made the biggest impacts? Okay. Okay. So for starters, let me say that there have been fears and hopes on um or on the uptake of AI in the newsrooms.
00:25:33
Speaker
For starters, there are also fears that people are likely to lose their jobs as media managers become so comfortable using AI. um so So there's an element of hostility in some sectors where they feel that we don't really need to use AI because we are likely to lose our jobs. If anything, from the information that we have been getting, with there have been saying They're saying, look, do we really need AI? For us, it's a monster. We'd actually wake up one day, we all lose our jobs. In my newsroom, there are about 60 of us, 45 reporters, 22 subs.
00:26:06
Speaker
Some people are busy thinking, are their jobs secure in terms of if you're going to use AI? But on the flip side, again, we have also started using AI a herald. Two years ago, having challenges of dirty copy would' would make mistakes every day, and the following day would actually make retractions, apologies, boys would get spellings wrong, some facts. so But all following the coming in of the AI, we are now able to come up with a cleaner copy. um We are also now you having to type and say, look, we want an infographic on ah genocide and whatever you're able to provide.
00:26:42
Speaker
Operations have become smoother in terms of how we work. We're actually working smarter, both are now spending less time doing the re research. We are now asking meta, are able to do this for us? And in you know one of our newspapers, which is doing podcasts, it's in Bulawayo, that's the second largest city in Zimbabwe.
00:26:59
Speaker
They're actually now using AI called Alice to read the news for their podcast. They say they've realized that listeners are now interested in the type of news because they're now using AI to to forth for the news.
00:27:13
Speaker
They're also now using AI for other aspects, like in terms of for us, graphics, And sometimes when you want to imagine how the Nile River is like, but you don't have an idea, we make use of AI in terms of improving our graphics, information and on on on the website.
00:27:31
Speaker
But I'm also within the service space, let me also you to say that we still have got challenges. on navigating around. Our media managers have been insisting that we need to use AI. But another challenge that we still have to have our photographers, reporters being trained on what exactly is a weigh AI, where are the benefits, what how can we use it?
00:27:53
Speaker
and so forth and so forth. So we are almost like in a transitional period. The other people that are still trying to resist, those who've embraced it, they still lack knowledge on how best they can move forward so that they can and AI can actually make it their life easier and much smoother than before. And so when we connect, that means so that you've spoken about some real concerns.
00:28:14
Speaker
um In one aspect, there's the concerns of job loss. And I guess part of that is the extent to which we are I mean, it's natural, like I guess, when new technology comes out, that it does phase out some aspect of work.
00:28:29
Speaker
And I suppose it's down to an awareness that actually there there are AI who still need a human being behind it to an extent, right? um But I think when we're connected it back to what you were saying earlier on about the gendered aspect in terms of the female journalists and the extent to which they're giving same access to training,
00:28:49
Speaker
Given your background in gender and development training, how do you think AI can help or hinder gender equality through the media? So I could actually say how it can hinder gender in the newsroom.
00:29:02
Speaker
Like for instance, already people are stupiding for the few existing opportunities. And more often than not, the preference is often given to male journalists to protect this. it as a result, you realize that in as much as want to adopt and embrace AI.
00:29:16
Speaker
Female journalists are more often, right now as you speak, they are left behind. What are opportunities, the few opportunities that available are being given to to men. But I'm sure if there were opportunities for gender in the newsroom, it would really assist women to work better and smarter.
00:29:33
Speaker
Remember, most women have got responsibilities in their homes, their children. So it means if you're going to use AI, it means they're going to spend less time working on stories and they have enough time to focus on their families and so forth.
00:29:45
Speaker
In addition to that, I think you also expose them to open them to a lot of other opportunities which they normally don't get when they have no access to artificial intelligence. And I've also realized that over the years, inasmuch as information has been available on Internet,
00:30:02
Speaker
It has not been reaching women, female journalists as it were. So if you're going to use AI, it means then women are able to get more, get exposed to a lot. Because now they're now left to, in a click of a button, their life will be very easy. You remember we we sometimes say women are often given softer bits in the newsroom.
00:30:22
Speaker
because it is specific that they don't have time to to work on their stories. But with the use of AI, it means everybody even can now do geopolitics, because now they have access to information. They now i have just to request, and then the information will be available at the take of a button.
00:30:37
Speaker
But AI itself is being, i mean, bearing in mind that, they again, there humans behind the production of these AI tools, right? AI itself is being accused and the producers of these AI of kind of perpetuating existing stereotypes, existing gender bias, existing all forms of bias bias. So there's race and and other forms of protected characteristics, right? So I guess to what extent do you see that playing out in your newsrooms?
00:31:08
Speaker
And perhaps in relation to the other stuff you talked about in terms of the skills gap, can you give us what what are the kind of things you've seen being done to mitigate some of these more negative aspects?
00:31:19
Speaker
So I think that is going to be a little bit difficult but for maybe for the transitional period. In a country like ours, for instance, in Zimbabwe, where people are adopting gradually, it's very difficult to discern which is genuine and which is not.
00:31:34
Speaker
So might that you might actually be, like you said, perpetuating the stereotypes knowingly or unknowingly. So I think we're in that period where we we still have to ascertain and really figure out how it is going to help the newsrooms.
00:31:48
Speaker
and in trying to do our way with the stereotypes. Again, it's a new area where we are trying to adopt and also acclimatize. But what the beauty about is AI also avails an avalanche of information.
00:32:02
Speaker
It's entirely now up to an organization, depending on their structural issues, to be able to discern what is real and what is not real. Well, the other day were talking about the deep facts within AI.
00:32:12
Speaker
So that, again, you need a level of education within the newsroom so that they're able to discern or maybe to tell the difference on what is genuine and what is not numb but for now we are working in the woods we are not yet sure um where exactly how we are able to how will we be able to quickly acclimatize to air because of the challenges that i've mentioned before training is still being selectively afforded a few individuals so it might take us longer than necessary than other countries to really get to a point where we are saying we now appreciate that AI can actually also perpetuate stereotypes, can also turn racial issues.
00:32:48
Speaker
We are in a space where we we need to learn as much as possible. So would be so difficult for me at the moment to say whether we are going to face the same scenarios within media in Zimbabwe, because we are, let me say we are still lagging behind in terms of the AI. And I mean, when we think about the integration of digital you to platforms like ai with your area of specialism or around gender reporting and then some of the kind of contentions around biases then it raises quite a few questions there doesn't it what are kind of your reflections ah fact of that integration
00:33:23
Speaker
but Already, I've already seen, I'm not saying AI is a monster. I've already have situations whereby there have been defects. and People's, um should I say, pictures have been played around with, ah you you you actually see someone was dressed formally. The next thing, these are journalists with an incident here in Zimbabwe where one of the journalists for and private media organization was said to have sent some notes to a minister here But it actor actually turns out that it's not true. She was actually dressed formally, but then the pictures were played around with.
00:34:00
Speaker
So to some extent, I i can also see challenges um as far female journalists or women are concerned. because We are also going to see um and abuse of some sort of AI when it's supposed to be helping people. It's something that you really need to to gather against and they a work working in an environment or in a tangible society where we are right now. that picture went viral that she was actually naked. But come to think of it, someone had played around the graphics and did it.
00:34:29
Speaker
almost like the graphics showed, looking ah naked. These were like nudes that had been sent. But actual fact, that was not the case. And when it was later reviewed few weeks later, when had been traumatized, it turned out that there had been some tempering of AI, of the use of graphics to to give that narrative.
00:34:50
Speaker
So for what I say right now, my wish again is to, I wish, more women would be able to at least to embrace AI so that they are also able to see how it works and guard themselves against the so-called fakes and then they'll be able to also to differentiate what is genuine and what is not.
00:35:06
Speaker
But I mean you're very right to start that statement and this answer with that statement that I'm not saying AI is a monster because that is not what we're saying here right. and There are positives to AI. And there's also things that we need to make sure we are not repeating with the technologies of previous, right?
00:35:26
Speaker
And this example of gendered and disinformation that you gave of this journalist whose picture was edited and it was a form of technology facilitated information.
00:35:37
Speaker
kind of sexual violence and in in a way, right? um And so there is that aspect. And I think also beyond what you said about, you know, empowering women journalists, there's also the responsibilities of the platforms through which these things have been ah been pushed and their responsibilities in terms of accountability and monitoring to make sure these things are tackled. so There's a whole load of issues emerging that were existing pre-AI, but that is also now feeding into the movements, the development of AI as well, right? so
00:36:10
Speaker
but And that's that's, for me, one of the biggest concerns is as we move forward into this new phase, which is already here, how do we make sure that we're not going to be having to have the same conversations we had when social media started and when, you know,
00:36:25
Speaker
the World Wide Web started. And we're still having those conversations and that we were having in the 90s, right? But with a new technology. But on a more positive side, there are positive views of ai And I guess for you as an editor, I'm sure you would have some advice for newsroom leaders to mitigate the hesitancy in
Embracing AI for Media Sustainability
00:36:46
Speaker
adopting AI. So how would you respond to that? What would be your advice to news leaders to encourage them in the use of ai and how you would approach it to in a more positive way?
00:36:56
Speaker
I think for starters, we need to be on the same ah launch page of information information needs to be available to everyone so that we get to appreciate what the positives that the AI can do for us.
00:37:08
Speaker
There's need a again to educate our people the on and the positive spin-offs for AI. In addition to that, we also need to appreciate ah and actually encourage our cadres that contrary to perceptions,
00:37:21
Speaker
that AI is going to swallow our jobs. We need to embrace it and actually unpack what it is to offer for people and generations to come. We also need to realize the so many benefits that are accrued when one day the newspapers that use AI.
00:37:38
Speaker
In other media organizations in Zimbabwe, not ours per se, they've actually started to generate adverts through use of AI. So instead of just having as many sales reps, they now make use of AI to at least algorithms and just look at the number of people who'd want to do adverts, how many people would visit the saloon on a particular day.
00:37:58
Speaker
So does that mean that there's a huge market out there? has actually helped us to identify even the type of stories that we need to be focusing on. It's no longer cumbersome for us to to sit down and crack our heads in the diary conference say, what kind of stories should you need to to look for it? Algorithms of the stories that you're writing really point us to the stories that we should be focusing on.
00:38:19
Speaker
Because these are the areas where people really want to be the kind of stories that they want to read. So there are so many benefits. But then what we just need at the moment we need capacity building, we need mindset shift to and understand and appreciate there's so many advantages that are accrued to artificial intelligence.
00:38:37
Speaker
Absolutely, and you made a very important point there about sustainability, about media sustainability um and financial models, etc. So what would you say about that in terms of that sustainability of media and ai and its potentials alongside other automation and tools?
00:38:55
Speaker
So I'll give you my ex example of my own our own us newspaper. It was started 1890. I don't know, more than 150 years ago. But in the last three months, we hired consultants from the UK. We are now migrating from the print.
00:39:08
Speaker
We are now with what is called the digital face strategy. We realized that you we are not giving people what they want. Our readers have already miles ahead. They've moved ahead. in terms of the expectations of what they want to read.
00:39:21
Speaker
If anything, they're way ahead of us in appreciating artificial intelligence. And as a result, we've taken a robust and progressive move to ensure that our first support of core is to look at the digital strategy and how do we embrace artificial intelligence to ensure that we also work on the numbers on our social media platforms We also generate interest using AI on our online um website as they wrote.
00:39:47
Speaker
We also look at um most digital journalism where we're actually focusing on things that AI has to offer us to generate interest. We feel that one of the days we'll just go out there and take a picture, still picture, bring it and put it in the newspaper.
00:40:02
Speaker
People are not keen on that. They now want to have as many innovative ways of digital storytelling for what has become the the immediate thing that we are focusing on.
00:40:13
Speaker
And come to think of it, we actually started restocking our newsrooms on the 1st of September because we feel that we are left behind in terms of our technology. and embracing AI. Other newspapers are actually getting so much mileage in terms of their sales, in terms of the kind of stories that they're using. Because they' len they've allowed to assist them in storytelling and they've been getting the benefits.
00:40:36
Speaker
I mean, and this is really vital because, I mean, the Herald is is over 100 years old. yeah So you're part of the legacy media. So to be making that investment is such a big change. What has that journey been like for you? And, you know, are there any lessons that you'd like to share with similar media organizations who are, you know, still tentative about making that step?
00:40:58
Speaker
FUSA Goa is a technological dinosaur. I look at my laptop, I wouldn't even know how to do things. i would be asked to do a presentation, I wouldn't know which, but then realized I was being left behind.
00:41:10
Speaker
You know, a lot of things are happening. So it just becomes very important for people to adapt quickly to the fourth revolution and the change that it's bringing. And all of the things that you also need to embrace is the digital storytelling and and also how then do we,
00:41:25
Speaker
fine-tune it and make it better. So I think it becomes crucial for all the media houses that are with their sold that still want to generate revenue, to migrate to the positive spin-offs that comes out as a result of the fourth revolution, which is brought about things like AI.
00:41:42
Speaker
It is very important for a newsroom to invest in the tools of trade, not only just telling people that they need to do, but also invest in terms of the tools of trade, ah which are um we which are amenable.
00:41:54
Speaker
to the changes that you want to see. Podcast is the new, maybe podcast has been there for years. I was telling you, today you missed this is my first time to be on podcast, but I'm already years behind in terms of trying to adapt on things that are very important.
00:42:06
Speaker
So yeah, the time is now, the time is now to adopt to you. know innovation technologies that have been brought about by AI. And I think it's not lost on me that a lot of this development in your organization is happening under your leadership as managing editor.
00:42:22
Speaker
So what has been your personal experience of having to lead your organization through this? There's been a lot of resistance, let me tell you. But when we look at our figures every day, it's not making sense.
00:42:35
Speaker
At some point, away we said we are no longer growing concern. I don't think we are growing anyway. We risk losing this paper i to a lot of changes that have been coming up.
00:42:46
Speaker
I'm in charge of it what is called a monthly productivity i report where I need to record how many stories there's a reporter written them online how many pictures have they taken how many videos have they done and i can see the level of resistance is high but we we are still like in a transitional period we've really made it clear that either people come aboard in terms of trying to ah adapt to the emerging changes or the risk uh being left to behind behind so yeah there's still a long way to go i'm also happy that we're that these are organizing women in use
00:43:19
Speaker
one in far for the past four years they've been taking us through steps to adapt ai so this where some of our strength and some of my strength has been coming from in leading the people at least i've got an idea and appreciation and i'm telling them if we manage to invest in this at least there's a future somewhere so it has been a a difficult moment but i can safely say we'll definitely get there So what does the future look like for you?
00:43:45
Speaker
The future is digital. The future is digital. The future is digital. We need to move fast and be at par with other organizations, other countries that have already moved behind.
00:43:59
Speaker
We always give ourselves as an example of of Kenya. The nation Kenya, they've done so much. I'm sure they went to digital, I think about maybe 20, 15 years i ago. So we we we feel that we are already lagging behind, but I think the future is digital.
00:44:12
Speaker
We need to move with the fourth industrial revolution. We need to embrace AI. Thank you so much, and Ruth. It's been such a pleasure speaking with you today. And hopefully your first podcast experience was a positive one.
00:44:24
Speaker
was fine. I really enjoyed talking to you. was so engaging. Thank you, Dr. Yemis. Thank you so much.
00:44:34
Speaker
Ruth's story begins with her childhood, where she grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe. with a father who instilled the importance of education and a mother who worked tirelessly to support family.
00:44:48
Speaker
Ruth learned early on the value of perseverance. Despite facing the challenges of living with polio, she excelled academically and developed leadership skills that would serve her well in a future career.
00:45:01
Speaker
As we look to the future of journalism, Ruth's insights serve as a reminder of the resilience and determination required to navigate this ever-changing landscape. The journey is not just about personal success. It's about paving the way for future generations of journalists, especially women, to thrive in an industry that often presents barriers.
00:45:23
Speaker
Send me an email at emc at africanwomeninmedia.com with your thoughts. And, you know, don't forget to let me know if you'd like to join me on an episode of this podcast. To find out more about African Women in Media,
00:45:35
Speaker
visit our main website at africanwomeninmedia.com. In the show notes, there's a list of organizations and resources to support you you've experienced any of the topics we've discussed today.
00:45:46
Speaker
And don't forget, subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on your favorite podcasting platform. Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don't forget to join the conversation using the hashtag Media Diary.
00:46:05
Speaker
Hemidu Diary is a product of African Women in Media, an NGO advocating for gender equality in the media industry. And this episode was hosted by Dr. Yemisi Akimbobola, produced and edited by Blessing O'Dob as part of a five-episode series on media and su sustainability.
00:46:23
Speaker
All music featured in this podcast is by Nana Kwabena. Thanks for listening and join us again next time.