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Her Media Diary Episode 41: “Can AI Intervene for Women” with Rebecca Mutiso
28 Plays21 days ago
Rebecca Mutiso is the Manager of Accreditation and Compliance at the Media Council of Kenya.
Rebecca's story begins in Nairobi, where she grew up in a vibrant household with her siblings and cousins. Despite facing poverty, her parents instilled in her the importance of education and self-advocacy. From a young age, Rebecca was known for her outspoken nature. This early foundation shaped her ambitions to either become a lawyer or a journalist—two fields where she believed she could make a difference.
Ultimately, Rebecca chose journalism, a decision that has led her to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and media. With over 17 years of experience in the industry, she has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of technology in storytelling. Rebecca emphasizes the need for female journalists to embrace AI, not only to stay relevant but to utilize it responsibly and ethically.
One of the most poignant points Rebecca raises is the digital gender divide that persists in society. Many women are discouraged from pursuing careers in technology, which often leads to a lack of representation in fields like AI. She works for the Media Council of Kenya, an organisation actively involved in creating guidelines for the responsible use of AI in media organizations, ensuring that women journalists have the skills to navigate this evolving landscape.
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
- Rise Women in Broadcast
- Journalist’s Toolbox:
- International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF)
- African Women in Media (AWiM)
- Public Media Women in Leadership
- International Journalists’ Network (IJNet)
- Women’s Media Center (WMC)
- Media Career Development Network
- The World Journalism Education Council (WJEC)
- AWiM Learning
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Transcript
Automation in HR with AI
00:00:04
Speaker
I see AI intervening in two ways. First, if female journalists have skills and these positions are coming up, then you are almost certainly eligible for that position. But if you don't don't have the skills, then you are obviously out.
00:00:20
Speaker
These days AI is being used to the HR processes, so sometimes the fast-betting process is not actually a human, it's a machine. So if have a rich CV, then you stand a chance of actually becoming one of the other persons they looking for.
Gender Equality in Media
00:00:46
Speaker
Imagine a world where we have gender equality and equity in and through media. That is our mission at African Women in Media. I'm Dr. Yemise Akimobola and this is her Media Diary. a podcast that captures the lived experiences of African women working in media industries.
00:01:04
Speaker
In this episode, I'm joined by Rebecca Moutiso, the Manager of Accreditation and Compliance at the Media Council of Kenya.
Rebecca's Early Aspirations
00:01:13
Speaker
Rebecca's story begins in Nairobi, where she grew up in a vibrant household with siblings and cousins. Despite facing poverty, her parents instilled in her the importance of education and self-advocacy.
00:01:26
Speaker
from a young age rebecca was known for her outspoken nature this early foundation shaped ambitions to either become a lawyer or a journalist two fields where she believed she could make a difference ultimately rebecca chose journalism a decision that has led her to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and media with over 17 years of experience in the industry she has witnessed first-hand the transformative power of technology in storytelling.
Ethical AI Use by Female Journalists
00:01:56
Speaker
Rebecca emphasizes the need for female journalists to embrace AI, not only to stay relevant but to utilize it responsibly and ethically. Throughout this series, we will be in conversation with African women who have redefined media sustainability through their various capacities.
00:02:15
Speaker
By writing these voices into conversation, we hope to provide solutions
00:02:35
Speaker
Rebecca Moutiso, thank for joining me for this and the interview. and Rebecca is the Manager of Accreditation and Compliance at the Media Council of
Live from AWIM 2024 Conference
00:02:44
Speaker
Kenya. And we are here today at the African Women in Media 2024 conference in Dakar, the car land of Taranga.
00:02:52
Speaker
I realize that means hospitality. Yes? So it's a pleasure to be here in person with you recording this interview. ah Now, I'm sure you've listened to the podcast and you know that we want to know who Rebecca is before she became everything that she became. right So tell us.
00:03:10
Speaker
I grew up in Nairobi in a place called Gatina. I grew up with my two siblings and two cousins were actually very good friends.
00:03:23
Speaker
So when I was growing up I was quite independent and very defensive of my family. there was actually a small chubby girl who would fight anyone, that's the only one. We all love that sibling. They're fighting, ready to fight our battle. Do you know my sister? Everyone would like, do you know who you're dealing with? They have a very tough sister.
00:03:50
Speaker
and And when they step aside, they'll see a chubby little girl who would be willing to do anything to defend. and So that shaped who I am. here I chased my dreams with them.
Family Life and Personal Growth
00:04:02
Speaker
with passion I next picking up for those who don't speak up actually there was a nickname I was given I was called ca westway okay the name yeah so it means the one voice okay the one who is never afraid to speak the advocates so basically that was me growing up yeah And what was your household like? You said you grew up with your siblings and your cousins. My siblings and my cousins, we actually lived in the same area.
00:04:34
Speaker
My dad is a pastor, my mom was a civil servant. And so we had a very, let me just say, fun childhood. We were outside and were given the freedom to be.
00:04:47
Speaker
who we wanted to be. And I remember my dad always telling me, one day you'll be a great person because of the way you always speak up. Yes, of course, and there were challenges. We lived in a lot of poverty.
00:05:00
Speaker
But my mom did everything she could. My mom and dad did everything they could to ensure that we went to school. and got a decent education. How many of you were your siblings? Just three. It was my sister and I and my elder brother. Okay, and your two cousins. I have two cousins, Job and Anne.
00:05:19
Speaker
So this was in Nairobi. What was Nairobi like back then? From your eyes as you know this young advocates? Actually Nairobi was the same. It was fun. We would go out and play anytime.
00:05:35
Speaker
and no one would like maybe just want to hurt you anything. It was just a wonderful place to grow up. And and but the one thing i see the difference between Iroki and now is that children were given the opportunity to be children. We had the playgrounds, we could play, and that formed us to become very, like people could think innovative,
00:06:01
Speaker
I have an initiative. These days, most places I just take Kamakongut, Jango, and children have little space to play. So I think that for me is the biggest thing about Meru, the biggest change. Okay, so from what I'm hearing, you were a very vocal person that loved to play, right?
00:06:22
Speaker
and And so how did that sense of ah activism, I would say, right, from such a young age, how has that shaped who then became? Okay, for me at that time I knew two things about myself. I wanted to either be a lawyer or a journalist. Okay. Because those are the two areas I thought I could really speak of. Yeah. So obviously I ended up being a journalist. Yeah.
00:06:45
Speaker
And so that shaped me into who wanted to be and who I've become. So for me I've worked in journalism and I think anyone who knows me knows that Rebecca will speak of mine anytime. If you want someone to tell you the truth Rebecca, I've gotten into a lot of trouble sometimes because of that.
00:07:03
Speaker
But for me, I think speaking honestly i'm telling people what you think may not be involved, but it surely does help.
00:07:15
Speaker
when you want to level with people and you want people to be the can be. So you had the option that you gave yourself of being a lawyer or a journalist. So I'm really keen to know like why you went one way or not the other.
00:07:34
Speaker
if i i didn't fast I did not get the grade to proceed to become a lawyer. I tell you what I'm really interested in because at some point I was on the lawyer route as well. I think both of us were on the same journey, either a lawyer or somebody in media.
00:07:51
Speaker
I first did not get the grade to become a lawyer.
00:07:55
Speaker
a journalist, I mean a lawyer, so I got a C plus. and So I tried to beg my mom to pay for me to go for the parent program and she was like, look here, I have no money.
00:08:06
Speaker
So it took like three months of begging and it finally got to me. So one day I woke up myself and we went to town. and look for a college and enroll for journalism. Wow, you just decided where you get married. So when my mom came back back in the evening, I told her, okay, fine, I'll get it, you have your money. So I have gone to town, I've looked for a college, and when I'm beginning on Monday.
00:08:31
Speaker
She was like, I still don't have the money. I was like, who will go with you on Monday and to speak to the person who is in charge of the college? I don't care how much you'll agree, but tell i will proceed. there cut a long story short, she went and spoke to the person in the green and worked out a payment plan and I began my job journey.
00:08:51
Speaker
Yes, yes. Interesting.
AI's Role in Journalism
00:08:53
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So now you've got a background in digital journalism, you've been doing a lot of work and and research around AI and and so I've got some questions around that.
00:09:03
Speaker
um How did you first become interested in that intersection of artificial intelligence and journalism? So I told you I worked in a house setting for 17 years.
00:09:16
Speaker
So the last seven years I began noticing a change the way journalism was being done. So the first thing I did of course is in the master's program in digital journalism.
00:09:29
Speaker
Then after that now we became interested in doing stories on technology and AI. And the fascinating thing was that just about two years before I left the New Year, I began working with Code for Africa. I'm really working with them in collaboratively to do a story on human trafficking. I was still working in a media house that time.
00:09:54
Speaker
So we we had not met with Catherine Dishedru, who's a very good mentor and friend of mine. Yes, yes, I know Catherine. We had not met at that time. yeah But we worked collaboratively using AI tools like Trello, Slack, to do a very big story on human trafficking, which actually got me a second-runner position in in one of the journalism awards. So for I sat back.
00:10:20
Speaker
so for me and so the potential of the AI was in here. After we collected a lot of data, not just for me but also other African journalists who were also working on stories and built up a database on human trafficking and people could get data from it. So that was very interesting for me and that's how I began become very interested in the
Launch of AWIM Learning Platform
00:10:45
Speaker
AI.
00:10:45
Speaker
yeah
00:10:53
Speaker
So, for me, it's take this time out to introduce our listeners to our Awam Learning platform. It's an amazing flagship learning site created by African women in media to empower journalists, media professionals, and anyone interested in the media with high-quality, accessible courses.
00:11:10
Speaker
On Awam Learning, we cover everything from media ethics and investigative journalism to digital storytelling and gender-sensitive reporting. The courses are designed by experts in the field and tailored specifically for the African context.
00:11:24
Speaker
It's super easy to navigate. Just head over to www.awim, that's A-W-I-M, awimlearning.com, www.awimlearning.com to enroll and join over 2,000 media professionals who have leveled up their careers with Awim Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, Awim Learning has something for everyone.
00:11:51
Speaker
And obviously our journey with AI and journalism has has really shifted from the days of Trello and Slack being the main enforcers then. what What are you seeing as the things we need to anticipate that we really need to think more critically about, especially when it comes to women journalists?
AI Literacy and Gender Bias
00:12:12
Speaker
oh I think female journalists need to understand that it's important for us to gain the skills in AI and becoming AI literate is not just gaining the skills and competencies in AI, it's also learning how to use AI responsibly for good because there are very many ethical people when it comes to journalism and AI but you must remember AI will be a big part of journalism's future.
00:12:43
Speaker
And if we do not gain the skills... We don't want to be left behind. We don't want left behind. So basically, we need to embrace it. though And I think one of the things in my study that I've done on AI and women,
00:12:57
Speaker
is that women are afraid to embrace technology. And this begins right from school. yeah I was going to say it's about initial access to technology also, isn't it, right? It's not just what women don't want to do, but it's that barrier to accessibility, isn't it? Yes. There's that digital gender divide that has been there in for way back. home Women and technology, women that don't have access to it, or even when we have access to it, we have told technology, in science, for men, not for women. And the patriarchal nature of our society is that we have been told to sit back and watch and let men first do little bit courage. But we have to be trailblazers in this industry.
00:13:44
Speaker
Absolutely, absolutely. And when you're giving your role at the Media Council of Kenya, um are there things that you guys are doing with media organizations, particularly around making sure that organizations have policies about the use of AI? What are your reflections on the situation of things. Actually at the for me.
00:14:09
Speaker
Okay. That that is was led by my boss Mr. David Omoyo and Mr. Victor Buire. And now we are just about to finish working up on it and so putting it out there for media houses to use. So we are very keen on ensuring that media houses use AI response.
00:14:32
Speaker
And one of the things that um we always have to grapple with with media is the progression for women journalists, right? The the the glass ceiling exists in media organizations also for women in media.
00:14:46
Speaker
you know there's there's In our research, you have cases where women apply for the position but they said it's only for men. So you don't even get to apply in the first place because it's always a reserved position for.
00:14:57
Speaker
do Do you see AI intervening in those kind of barriers that women journalists face in the industry? yeah Of course I see AI in two ways.
00:15:09
Speaker
First, if female journalists have the skills and these positions are coming up, then you are almost certainly eligible for that position. But if you don't don't have the skills then you are obviously out.
00:15:22
Speaker
And these days AI is being used in the HR processes. So sometimes the first vetting process is not actually a human, it's a machine. So if you have rich CV, then you stand a chance of actually becoming one of the persons they are looking for in that.
00:15:46
Speaker
But of course we must be aware that AI As its own biases. As its own biases against women. And that is why for me it is important for us to become AI literate in a sense that we are in involved right from conceptualization, design and implementation of this AI tool. That way we'll be able to deal with the issues of algorithm bias and actually be able to design AI tools that are pro-human or are gender sensitive.
Rebecca's Future Goals and Mentorship
00:16:19
Speaker
So you've had an incredible journey in your career, even even from your childhood, right? here and And I'm curious to know, as you look forward, to as you kind of really get your research and your work into this area of AI, if journalism and gender, what are the things that you are looking forward to?
00:16:38
Speaker
I am looking forward first doing my PhD. Yes. I start doing artificial intelligence or my other pet subject of solutions to analyzing. i'm actually in the process of writing a book chapter for a university in the US with a friend called Annika.
00:16:56
Speaker
So that is the first thing I want to do. andna And secondly, I'm just looking forward to evolving in my career as a journalist. I know right now I'm not working directly with the media but I also want to mentor young girls who want to enter into the profession because you realize as young girls we're always told what we can do but then what do we tell ourselves? We reinforce those stereotypes. I cannot become CEO of a company.
00:17:28
Speaker
I cannot be leader in a company. So we grow up with those perceptions but for us i For me, I discovered even for myself, I had to take years to discover that no one can tell what you cannot It is only you who can convince yourself. in it You can either do something or not do So for the last 10 years, I have been telling myself what I can do. Like this year, I purposed to present a paper. or who are some I've been ah attending this conference for two years. yeah
00:17:59
Speaker
Listening carefully to what other participants um are saying and I'm like Rebecca, You know what you can do on the hospital, but you can paper and also be a doctor.
00:18:10
Speaker
So this year I propose to do two things. and ah Come here present and and do something on traditional journalism and I'm actually writing a paper or a book chapter on that right now. Excellent.
00:18:22
Speaker
So that means that in the next three, four years, five years, maybe we'll see a doctor, Rebecca Mautizo. Definitely. Amen. Amen to that. here Thank you so much for joining me today, Rebecca. It's been a pleasure speaking with you.
00:18:37
Speaker
It's been a pleasure. I am with you. Always. Thank you.
00:18:49
Speaker
Thank you. One of the most prominent points Rebecca raised is the digital gender divide that persists in society. men and women are discouraged from pursuing careers in technology, which often leads to a lack of representation and feels like AI.
00:19:05
Speaker
Through her work at the Media Council of Kenya, Rebecca is actively involved in creating guidelines for the responsible use of in media organizations, ensuring that women journalists have the skills to now get this evolving landscape.
00:19:19
Speaker
As she looks to the future, Rebecca is determined to continue her education, aiming to pursue a PhD and men to young girls interested in journalism. She believes that by empowering the next generation, we can break down the barriers that have historically held women back in the media
Engagement and Resources
00:19:37
Speaker
industries.
00:19:37
Speaker
Drop me an email at tmc at africanwomeninmedia.com with your thoughts and let me know if you'd like to join me on an episode of this podcast. To find out more about AWIM and our work, visit our main website at africanwomeninmedia.com. And in the show notes, there's a list of organizations and resources to support you if you've experienced any of the topics we've discussed today.
00:19:57
Speaker
And don't forget, subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favorite podcasting platforms. And remember to tune in at our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don't forget, join the conversation using the hashtag Her Media Diary.
00:20:22
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 sustainability.
00:20:39
Speaker
All music featured in this podcast is by Nana Kwabena. Thanks for listening and join us again next time.