Gov’t hails media association for strides in promoting effective use of AI.

The state has also restated its commitment to continue supporting the association in the initiative and the group’s other related activities which are aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of Cameroonians.

The declaration was made in Yaounde Thursday by the Secretary General at the Ministry of Communication, Prof Félix Zogo. This was at the launch of the 6^th edition of the Press Citizenship Days.

The event is an initiative of the Media Association for Mediation and Citizenship known by its abbreviation as 2MC. 

The event which is coordinated by the president of the media association, Valentin Siméon Zinga, is holding under the theme: “Artificial Intelligence, Media and Democracy: stakes, opportunities and challenges”.

Per organisers, the gathering is focused on evaluating the roles that the media can play in promoting democracy especially in the era of the AI with a particular interest on how media professionals can properly feed on the positives of the technological innovation and handle the challenges that comes with it in the media sector.

The two-day event has brought together students from several higher institutions of learning in and around Yaounde.

Yesterday’s launching ceremony was punctuated by a keynote address presented by the Vice Chancellor of the ICT University, Prof Jean-Emmanuel Pondi. It was also spiced by a series of panel discussions

Gov’t lauds initiative, restates commitment

In a statement presented while launching the event, Prof Zogo said government is proud of the 2MC association for its engagement in championing a cause for the proper use of the AI.

The Ministry of Communication SG said the initiative was timely and will play a fundamental role in shaping the use of the technology in the media circle.

“The government which I represent here as the representative of the Minister of Communication, has a particular interest on this issue because artificial intelligence is a technological innovation that comes with its negative and good sides depending on how we use it,” Prof Zogo said.

He said initiatives like that championed by the media association particularly provides professionals in the media landscape with a platform to evaluate how the tool can be effectively put to use without jeopardizing key components like the full respect of the ethics and deontology of the profession.

“For the media, it is a blessing in terms of the contribution that it can make in the production process and the attractiveness that it provides. But we have to be very careful. These innovations can jeopardise the media profession by particularly impacting aspects like the respect of ethics and deontology of the profession,” he added.

“Government is naturally behind this idea because of its bid to address these worries as highlighted through the holding of this gathering. We are perfectly at ease working with this organisation and other structures,” Prof Zogo said.

Media association consolidates strides

The Media Association for Mediation and Citizenship, it should be said, is a forum for reflection and debate on professional journalistic practices.

Since 2020, the group has been organising the Press Citizenship Days in a bid to promote good journalism practices and equip actors in the media space with the tools needed to actively contribute in shaping the wellbeing of the society.

Speaking to the press shortly after the launch of the 6^th edition of the Day yesterday, the president of the media association, Valentin Siméon Zinga said the idea of anchoring the 2024 session on the AI was influenced by the group’s quest to help media professionals and other professionals in the space properly deal with the AI. 

“The AI is an authentic indication of what we call a double-edged sword. The good side can offer more productivity and credibility. But we also have setbacks emanating from an abusive or a wrong usage of the tool,” Zinga said.

“The AI has its advantages and its disadvantages. The stakes are that we cannot avoid it. It is inevitable. It is unavoidable. We are here to emphasize that if you don’t use artificial intelligence as a journalist, artificial intelligence will use you,” the vice president of the association, Kini Nsom said. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3326 of Friday December 20, 2024