Displacement Or Complementarity? An Insight into Job Security of Nigerian Journalists in the Age of AI

Artificial Intelligence has revolutionised activities across various industries. Due to automation,
studies have shown its ability to take over and monoplolise tasks previously handled by humans,
fueling panic of displacement and job losses. The field of journalism is not an exception. Aspects of
the field involving repetitive tasks, data analysis and content production where speed and efficiency
are essential are shown to be under serious threats in this regard. This study therefore seeks to
establish whether the displacement ability of AI is likely to dominate the future of Nigerian
journalism or whether it can be used to complement the traditional skills of journalists to make the
industry more efficient. Anchored on media ecology and technological determinism theories, and
using qualitative approach, primary data were gathered through indepth interview of journalists
drawn diverse media outlets in Kogi state. Through thematic analysis of data, findings show that job
security of the Nigerian journalists in the age of AI will depend on how journalists and news
organisations adapt to these technological changes. It specifically indicates that journalists who
develop skills in areas where human judgement and creativity are essential, such as investigative
and interpretative reporting, storytelling, and analysis, etc, are likely to remain valuable in the
evolving media landscape. With such skills, collaboration between journalists and AI tools can lead
to new opportunities for innovation and efficiency in journalism.

KEYWORDS: Artificial Intelligence, Journalism, Media Ecology, Displacement, Complementarity