Journalists Urged to Embrace AI While Upholding Core Values in Conservation Reporting

Media professionals gathered in Nairobi for the launch of Mongabay’s new Swahili-language environmental journalism platform, where they discussed the balance between embracing technological innovations and maintaining journalistic integrity.

The event, themed “Truth in the Age of Noise: Conservation Journalism, Disinformation and the Promise of Artificial Intelligence,” highlighted the growing importance of credible environmental reporting in local languages across East Africa.

John Kipchumba Tanui, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, whose speech was delivered by Information and Broadcasting Secretary Temesi Mukani, emphasized the crucial role of science-based journalism in combating misinformation that has proliferated on digital platforms.

“In a continent that harbors more than 400 million social media users, this is fertile ground for disinformation,” Tanui noted, stressing that reliable journalism in widely understood languages is essential for maintaining the integrity of public discourse on environmental issues.

The launch of Mongabay’s Swahili platform represents a significant step toward making environmental and climate information accessible to millions across East Africa, where Swahili serves as a lingua franca. David Akana, Director of Programs for Mongabay Africa, explained the strategic importance of this language choice.

“While English might be important for us to use in this region, we also recognize that using local languages is even more appropriate, as our communities engage and transact through them more,” Akana said. He added that the platform aims to strengthen conversations around nature conservation and sustainable development throughout the region.

The event brought together media professionals and academics to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism, particularly in environmental reporting. Andy Kagwa, Operations Editor at Standard Group, offered a nuanced perspective on AI’s role in modern newsrooms.

“Journalists must adapt to technological changes while ensuring that professional standards remain intact. AI will shape the future of journalism. It is not going to replace us as some people think,” Kagwa said. He explained that while AI presents challenges through manipulated content and fabricated stories designed for clicks, it also offers valuable tools for fact-checking, translation, and data analysis when used responsibly.

Dr. Jackie Lidubwi, media and communications expert and lecturer at Africa Nazarene University, reinforced the message that newsrooms must embrace innovation while strengthening fact-based reporting. She emphasized the responsibility of media organizations to ensure the public receives reliable information on critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental conservation.

Mongabay, known for its focus on the relationship between people and nature, covers a range of environmental issues including biodiversity, climate change, pollution, land degradation, and ocean health. Its African team has developed expertise in highlighting solutions and holding governments accountable for environmental commitments.

Media veteran Ann Ngugi brought attention to the concept of information justice during the event. She argued that climate information has limited value if it doesn’t reach those most affected by environmental changes.

“Information justice means that a farmer, a motorbike rider, a pastoralist, a fisherman each has the same access to climate information as a scientist in another part of the world,” Ngugi said. She called for the simplification of complex environmental terminology such as carbon credits, ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss to ensure communities can understand and act on vital information.

The launch of Mongabay’s Swahili platform comes at a critical time when East Africa faces increasing climate-related challenges, from droughts and floods to biodiversity threats. By providing verified environmental reporting in a widely spoken regional language, the initiative addresses both the information gap and the need for trustworthy content in an era of digital misinformation.