Journalists trained on AI as China calls for balanced media order

Kenyan journalists gathered in Nairobi on Monday for a training programme on modern newsroom practices and artificial intelligence, as Chinese officials called on media organisations to uphold truth, strengthen verification and embrace technological change responsibly.

The mainstream media training session, held at the Xinhua News Agency Africa regional bureau offices in Nairobi, brought together journalists and media practitioners for discussions on the future of journalism amid rapid technological change.

The event formed part of efforts to deepen Kenya-China relations through media cooperation and knowledge exchange.

Among those in attendance were Chinese Embassy in Kenya Minister Counsellor Zhang Zhizhong, Xinhua News Agency Africa regional bureau director-general Ying Qiang, among other guests.

Speaking during the event, Zhang said traditional media are facing unprecedented challenges as new technologies continue to reshape the production and dissemination of news.

“New technologies such as artificial intelligence are transforming the way news is produced and disseminated,” he said.

He noted that while AI and other digital tools have improved efficiency in newsrooms, they have also introduced new challenges for journalists and media organisations.

“When false information can pass for truth and traffic becomes the only standard, the core value of media professionals, the pursuit of truth and the verification of information, is steadily weakened,” Zhang said.

He emphasised that despite technological advancements, journalism's central mission should remain unchanged.

“We believe that media should serve the people, not capital. News reporting is not a commodity or a tool for gaining traffic or profit,” he said.

Zhang said truth remains the foundation of journalism, adding that media organisations should continue investing in in-depth reporting and objective verification.

“We insist on in-depth investigation and objective verification, striving to present a full picture of the facts because only the truth can earn respect and build consensus,” he said.

The diplomat also said media have a responsibility to report not only challenges but also stories that highlight development and community progress.

“We never shy away from problems, but we also have a responsibility to report on the country's development and progress, describing the spirit of its people and the heartwarming stories of its communities,” he said.

According to Zhang, media organisations from developing countries face similar challenges and should work together to exchange ideas, technology and experiences.

“No conscious media can stand alone. As media from developing countries, our situation is especially similar. That is precisely why we must join hands, share what we have and pursue common development,” he said.

He described the training programme as an opportunity for journalists to learn from one another while exploring media development paths suited to their national contexts and audiences.

Zhang also called for stronger local voices in global information flows, saying media organisations are best placed to tell the stories of their own countries.

“It is the Kenyan media that knows Kenya best, and it is the Chinese media that knows China best. We have a responsibility to speak for our countries and peoples that have been ignored or misunderstood,” he said.

He argued that a more balanced international information order requires diverse voices and perspectives.

“Breaking this monopoly is not about creating confrontation, but about restoring a fair, diverse and balanced information order of the world,” Zhang said.

The training programme also offered participants practical insights into newsroom innovation, artificial intelligence and modern media operations.

Zhang emphasised that the initiative marked a starting point for deeper cooperation between Xinhua News Agency and Kenyan as well as African media organisations.

He added that the agency looks forward to strengthening collaboration with Kenyan media through knowledge sharing and professional exchanges.

As artificial intelligence increasingly finds its way into newsrooms around the world, the Nairobi training underscored the evolving role of journalists in ensuring technology complements rather than replaces the profession's core principles of truth, verification and public service.