Journalism and AI: Reflections from Namibia to America
Lessons for local wordsmiths
As part of my World Press Institute fellowship, I visited newsrooms across the US, from Minnesota to San Francisco. These experiences deepened my understanding of American media and prompted reflections on Namibia’s realities.
A recurring theme was the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism.
In the newsrooms we visited, AI is no longer abstract. It is embedded in daily reporting, editing, and audience engagement. In Namibian newsrooms by contrast, AI remains a distant conversation – mentioned occasionally, but rarely embraced.
This raises important questions about the future of journalism in our part of the world and whether we are ready to seize opportunities – and confront challenges – of this technological shift.
What struck me most in the US newsrooms we visited is the openness with which journalists talk about AI. Editors, reporters and digital teams experiment with tools.
Some use AI to transcribe interviews in seconds, freeing time for analysis. Others rely on it to summarise documents, generate headlines or suggest story angles.
Some even use AI-assisted fact-checking to flag inconsistencies, helping journalists sift through the flood of information.
AI not replacing journalists
At one newsroom, I saw AI support investigative reporting by analysing datasets that would take humans months to process.
At another, AI tailored digital stories to specific audiences – rewriting content for younger readers or mobile-first users.
While there is caution about accuracy, ethics and over-reliance, there is curiosity and experimentation. AI is not replacing journalists, it is augmenting their work.
Surveys confirm this trend. In April 2024, a study from The Associated Press found nearly 70% of newsroom staffers used generative AI tools.
A follow-up by the Thomson Reuters Foundation in early 2025 put that figure at over 80%. Journalists I met were not pretending to have all the answers, but they were willing to explore possibilities while keeping editorial values central.
Back home, the situation is different. Namibian newsrooms face underfunded operations, shrinking revenue and limited technological infrastructure. AI has not become part of newsroom culture, and many journalists see it as futuristic – or a threat to fragile jobs.
Capacity is also an issue. Journalists often juggle multiple roles – reporting, editing, even designing pages. Training staff to use AI tools can feel like a luxury, and access to advanced platforms comes with costs small outlets may not be able to afford.
The biggest barrier is exposure. Without seeing AI in action, it is easy to dismiss it as irrelevant. I admit that I, too, was reluctant to use AI. Like many colleagues, I worried about its impact on the integrity of journalism. Would it make us lazy? Replace the human craft of storytelling?
Yet, observing American newsrooms shifted my perspective. AI can be a powerful assistant, helping us work efficiently and opening doors to stories we might otherwise miss. But one truth remains – AI must never replace the human touch.
A machine cannot walk into a remote village in northern Namibia and hear the quiet pain in someone’s voice. It cannot sit across from a whistleblower and earn trust, conduct interviews, sense nuance, or bring empathy. In my opinion, these are the heartbeats of journalism.
African stories
Equally important, fact-checking and verification remain the responsibility of journalists.
Investigative reporters, in particular, deal with sensitive, high-impact stories. AI can process data, but it cannot weigh credibility, chase leads or hold power to account. That demands human rigour, persistence and judgement.
Hesitation in our newsrooms risks widening the gap between African media and global journalism trends. If American journalists work faster, dig deeper and reach wider audiences, what happens to African voices if we fall behind? Will our stories be drowned out by louder narratives elsewhere?
At the same time, Namibia’s context offers unique opportunities. Challenges – rural connectivity, limited resources, linguistic diversity – create space for innovative AI use.
Imagine tools translating stories into multiple Namibian languages, analysing government budgets to flag suspicious allocations, or tracking environmental changes. These possibilities require investment, training and curiosity.
My visits will leave two reflections. First, adopting AI does not mean abandoning fundamentals. Human judgement, editorial independence and ethics remain central. AI can suggest a headline, but only a journalist decides if it captures nuance.
AI can scan thousands of documents, but only a journalist determines what matters to the public.
Second, experimentation is crucial. American newsrooms are not waiting for perfect answers – they are learning by doing. For Namibia, first steps could include AI transcription for radio reporters or AI-assisted data analysis for investigative stories.
The key is to start.
The gap between Namibian and American newsrooms is real, but not permanent. Exposure, training and a mindset shift are needed. AI should be seen as a tool to make journalists more effective watchdogs, storytellers and custodians of democracy.
As I continue this fellowship, I carry both excitement and caution.
Sonja Smith is a multi-award-winning Namibian investigative journalist currently in the United States as part of the World Press Institute (WPI) fellowship programme, joining eight other accomplished journalists from around the world.
A recurring theme was the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism.
In the newsrooms we visited, AI is no longer abstract. It is embedded in daily reporting, editing, and audience engagement. In Namibian newsrooms by contrast, AI remains a distant conversation – mentioned occasionally, but rarely embraced.
This raises important questions about the future of journalism in our part of the world and whether we are ready to seize opportunities – and confront challenges – of this technological shift.
What struck me most in the US newsrooms we visited is the openness with which journalists talk about AI. Editors, reporters and digital teams experiment with tools.
Some use AI to transcribe interviews in seconds, freeing time for analysis. Others rely on it to summarise documents, generate headlines or suggest story angles.
Some even use AI-assisted fact-checking to flag inconsistencies, helping journalists sift through the flood of information.
AI not replacing journalists
At one newsroom, I saw AI support investigative reporting by analysing datasets that would take humans months to process.
At another, AI tailored digital stories to specific audiences – rewriting content for younger readers or mobile-first users.
While there is caution about accuracy, ethics and over-reliance, there is curiosity and experimentation. AI is not replacing journalists, it is augmenting their work.
Surveys confirm this trend. In April 2024, a study from The Associated Press found nearly 70% of newsroom staffers used generative AI tools.
A follow-up by the Thomson Reuters Foundation in early 2025 put that figure at over 80%. Journalists I met were not pretending to have all the answers, but they were willing to explore possibilities while keeping editorial values central.
Back home, the situation is different. Namibian newsrooms face underfunded operations, shrinking revenue and limited technological infrastructure. AI has not become part of newsroom culture, and many journalists see it as futuristic – or a threat to fragile jobs.
Capacity is also an issue. Journalists often juggle multiple roles – reporting, editing, even designing pages. Training staff to use AI tools can feel like a luxury, and access to advanced platforms comes with costs small outlets may not be able to afford.
The biggest barrier is exposure. Without seeing AI in action, it is easy to dismiss it as irrelevant. I admit that I, too, was reluctant to use AI. Like many colleagues, I worried about its impact on the integrity of journalism. Would it make us lazy? Replace the human craft of storytelling?
Yet, observing American newsrooms shifted my perspective. AI can be a powerful assistant, helping us work efficiently and opening doors to stories we might otherwise miss. But one truth remains – AI must never replace the human touch.
A machine cannot walk into a remote village in northern Namibia and hear the quiet pain in someone’s voice. It cannot sit across from a whistleblower and earn trust, conduct interviews, sense nuance, or bring empathy. In my opinion, these are the heartbeats of journalism.
African stories
Equally important, fact-checking and verification remain the responsibility of journalists.
Investigative reporters, in particular, deal with sensitive, high-impact stories. AI can process data, but it cannot weigh credibility, chase leads or hold power to account. That demands human rigour, persistence and judgement.
Hesitation in our newsrooms risks widening the gap between African media and global journalism trends. If American journalists work faster, dig deeper and reach wider audiences, what happens to African voices if we fall behind? Will our stories be drowned out by louder narratives elsewhere?
At the same time, Namibia’s context offers unique opportunities. Challenges – rural connectivity, limited resources, linguistic diversity – create space for innovative AI use.
Imagine tools translating stories into multiple Namibian languages, analysing government budgets to flag suspicious allocations, or tracking environmental changes. These possibilities require investment, training and curiosity.
My visits will leave two reflections. First, adopting AI does not mean abandoning fundamentals. Human judgement, editorial independence and ethics remain central. AI can suggest a headline, but only a journalist decides if it captures nuance.
AI can scan thousands of documents, but only a journalist determines what matters to the public.
Second, experimentation is crucial. American newsrooms are not waiting for perfect answers – they are learning by doing. For Namibia, first steps could include AI transcription for radio reporters or AI-assisted data analysis for investigative stories.
The key is to start.
The gap between Namibian and American newsrooms is real, but not permanent. Exposure, training and a mindset shift are needed. AI should be seen as a tool to make journalists more effective watchdogs, storytellers and custodians of democracy.
As I continue this fellowship, I carry both excitement and caution.
Sonja Smith is a multi-award-winning Namibian investigative journalist currently in the United States as part of the World Press Institute (WPI) fellowship programme, joining eight other accomplished journalists from around the world.
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