Abstract
With the prevalence of challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and environmental degradation, the role of environmental journalism has become increasingly crucial in shaping public discourse and informing policymakers. This study investigated the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) for enhanced environmental journalism in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Four specific objectives and four research questions guided the study. A cross sectional survey research design was adopted, with a population of 855 journalists in Akwa Ibom State and a sample of 86 journalists selected from the study area. The participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled Artificial Intelligence and Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Enhanced Environmental Journalism Questionnaire (AIIKSEEJQ). The instrument was validated by three experts and had a reliability coefficient of 0.78 using Cronbach’s alpha. The researcher and trained research assistants visited the selected vending clusters to administer the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using mean statistics.
Findings indicated that the extent of AI integration in environmental journalism was low, whereas the extent of IKS integration was high. Furthermore, both AI and IKS were perceived to be highly beneficial to environmental journalism in Akwa Ibom State. The study concluded that although AI is poorly integrated and IKS is highly integrated for enhanced environmental journalism, both hold immense potential for improving the sustainability of environmental journalism, particularly in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It recommended, among other things, that journalists should establish collaborative platforms that bring together indigenous communities, researchers, and technology experts to strengthen knowledge exchange and improve reportage on environmental issues.
Keywords: Algorithmic Reporting, Indigenous Epistemologies, Climate Communication, Knowledge Sovereignty, Digital Tools
Writers:
Patience S. Essien
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies
University of Uyo, Uyo
Iniobong C. Nda
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies
University of Uyo, Uyo
Akanimo C. Attang
Faculty of Communication and Media Studies
University of Uyo, Uyo