SMI Calls for Urgent Policy Frameworks on AI Governance in Nigerian Newsrooms, as Survey Highlights Gaps

Safer-Media Initiative (SMI) has called for an urgent policy framework to guide the responsible use of artificial intelligence in Nigerian newsrooms, following a survey that revealed a lack of clear AI guidelines. The organisation’s Executive Director, Peter Iorter, made the call on Friday in Abuja while presenting the survey report.

The SMI survey reveals significant structural and ethical gaps in how newsrooms are approaching AI adoption. A majority of respondents (51%) report an absence of formal policies in their newsrooms. The report also reveals limited transparency practices and unclear lines of responsibility.

Iorter, while making the report public, says AI governance appears largely ad hoc, with individual journalists often left to make ethical decisions without institutional guidance.

Iorter said: “When asked who is primarily responsible for the ethical oversight of AI in your newsroom, 34% say individual journalists are responsible for ethical decisions around AI, with 27% saying no one is responsible. Communication from management—particularly regarding job security and tool provision—remains inconsistent, contributing to uncertainty within newsrooms. Overall, the data suggests that many organisations are using AI without the foundational frameworks needed to ensure accountability, transparency, and security.”

According to the survey, only 17% report having a clear, written policy, suggesting that structured governance is still emerging. A combined 32% either don’t know (16%) or rely on informal verbal rules (16%) when asked, “Does your newsroom have a written, formal policy regarding the use of AI?” highlighting a lack of internal communication on AI adoption in most newsrooms.

The report also noted that audience transparency is not yet a priority in many newsrooms, despite growing public concern about AI-generated misinformation. A higher proportion of respondents (51%) say their newsroom has no rule on disclosing AI-generated content. Meanwhile, 22% note disclosure is encouraged but not enforced, showing a partial but weak commitment to transparency, while only 8% report mandatory disclosure.

The report noted that the lack of mandatory disclosure may undermine trust. It also shows that ethical oversight is fragmented: 34% of respondents say individual journalists are responsible for ethical decisions around AI, 28% cite management or the Editor-in-Chief, while 27% say no one is responsible. Only 11% point to the IT/Tech department.

Only a minority feel adequately informed about how AI may affect their roles, with 40% of respondents reporting that AI’s impact on job security has not been discussed at all. While 27% report transparent and reassuring communication, 20% describe management’s communication as vague or unclear, and 13% say information circulates only through informal rumours. The report notes that a lack of structured communication may contribute to anxiety and speculation among staff.

The report further observes that security practices are weak across most newsrooms. A larger proportion of respondents (67%) say they are expected to use free AI tools, which often lack enterprise-grade security. A significant number (27%) say they pay for their own professional tools, indicating a personal financial burden and inconsistent access to secure systems. Only 6% report that management provides paid enterprise subscriptions. The reliance on free tools increases exposure to data privacy risks and may violate organisational or regulatory standards.

The SMI Executive Director and CEO says these key findings expose the absence of formal structures guiding the use of AI in Nigerian newsrooms, which could undermine journalistic integrity and accountability as AI tools become increasingly integrated into newsroom processes.

To address this challenge, Iorter hinted that SMI is currently developing newsroom policy guidelines to promote adoption by newsrooms, to ensure responsible use of AI technologies and safeguard the future of journalism practice in Nigeria.

The SMI report, which is now available on the organisation’s website, surveyed how journalists in Nigeria are adapting to generative artificial intelligence tools. It highlights journalists’ use of generative AI, safety concerns, policy challenges, and gender-related experiences. The report has also provided a baseline for the training of over a hundred journalists across the country on the effective and responsible use of AI tools.

The development of a policy framework on AI usage in Nigerian newsrooms will be another major activity of SMI’s Artificial Intelligence and Media (AIM) Project: Navigating the Present, Shaping the Future. The AIM project is made possible through funding from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through its International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC).