Online publishers urged to embrace Artificial Intelligence in journalism practice

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), under the umbrella of Mediapreneurs have been urged to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) to attract readers to their websites., as they are expected to leverage different online platforms and technology to promote their products or services and more with their audiences

Penpushing reports that Olumide Iyanda, publisher of the QEDNG, gave the charge, during his presentation at the capacity-building session of the 8th Annual General Meeting of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), held at Reverton Hotel, Lokoja, Kogi State.

The online Publisher insisted that media managers should post their stories where their readers can easily read them, pointing out that many readers take interest in watching short video clicks instead of reading long texts.

Penpushing further reports that Iyanda urged mediapreneurs to equally include videos, as part of their stories to generate more traffic on their website, stressing that leveraging on social media goes a long way to promote websites, and called on publishers to know where their readers have gone to and accordingly plant their stories there.

‘Internet penetration in Nigeria is about 45.5 per cent. Over 40 per cent of these users engage with news on Facebook, Tik Tok. Yet, 75 per cent of internet users do not go pass first page, so, it is important to use social media platforms to promote content and engage with users,’’ he said.

Penpushing also reports that Iyanda, who is a member of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), added that Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Tiktok, among others were variable channels to reach readers.

The lecturer in his presentation urged online publishers to now wear the garb of business decision-makers as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) upon whose shoulders rest the success or otherwise and the fate of their workforce.

Penpushing reports that he said the view the Chief Executives Officers hold on their role would impact the way they related with their clients, explaining that publishers as small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) must learn how to adapt to changing consumer behaviours to beat the increasing competition in the digital space.

The presentation equally harped the need for data to make appropriate decisions., adding that they should not decide what their audience need, stressing that digital marketing must be active on all digital platforms

Penpushing further reports that he urged Publishers to know when to charge for stories and when not, explaining that placing fees for public relations or promotional stories for commercial interests did not breach journalism ethics.

The lecturer noted that journalism would not only be seen as a social or humanitarian service but also as a business where bills must be settled by the entrepreneur, and  warned publishers to beware of other professionals who collect money from their clients to publish stories only to turn round to use subtle methods to slip the stories into the media.

Penpushing also reports that Iyanda, who warned that media professionals on importance need to maintain the code of ethics in all they do, urged publishers to strike the right balance between ethics and demands of business.

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