Nairobi training session partners Chinese and African media on AI innovation

 A media training session on artificial intelligence (AI) was held in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, on Monday, aimed at enhancing African media practitioners’ understanding of AI and its application in the rapidly evolving media landscape.

The training, organized by Xinhua News Agency Africa Regional Bureau, brought together nearly 200 journalists, editors, and producers from mainstream media across Africa, both online and offline, and covered topics including AI-powered news reporting and visual storytelling.

Zhang Zhizhong, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, noted that AI and other emerging technologies have transformed the media landscape while enhancing newsgathering and dissemination.

He said the training seminar provided a platform for sharing knowledge, experience and best practices on the use of AI to help reinvent the industry.

Samuel Maina, editor-in-chief of Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, said the training had equipped local media practitioners with new knowledge and skills on the application of AI in content production, enabling them to work more efficiently without compromising quality and credibility.

« The knowledge we gained from the training can be shared with colleagues in our newsrooms, helping more journalists embrace AI tools, » Maina said, adding that Kenyan media is well-positioned for large-scale AI adoption thanks to the country’s high internet penetration rate.

Ephy Nyakindi, a reporter with Royal Media Services, Kenya’s largest broadcasting company, said the training session was impactful, as it exposed her to new applications of AI and how they can be incorporated into her day-to-day work.

« I learned how to use AI while in the field looking for stories, and how to fact-check my reports. That is why this training session has been important to me, » Nyakindi said.