MIRI: Journalists must be prepared to continuously learn and adapt to change, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly influential in newsroom operations.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said the field of journalism today goes beyond writing and photography, requiring practitioners to understand and apply emerging technologies like AI in their daily work.
“Today’s journalists are not just writers or photographers. They are also content creators, data analysts and digital strategists. Now, they must also learn to harness AI in their workflow.
“AI should not be seen as a threat, but rather a tool to strengthen journalism, particularly in areas such as automated reporting, real-time fact-checking, instant transcription and cross-language translation,” he said.
Lee said this when officiating the closing ceremony and certificate presentation for the ‘AI in the Newsroom’ journalism workshop organised by the Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) at Dynasti Hotel here today.
While AI brings great potential, he cautioned that it also comes with challenges such as ethical concerns, job security, misinformation risks, and the need for continuous upskilling.
“The real risk is not that AI will replace journalists – but that journalists who fail to learn and adapt will be left behind.
“Therefore, continuous learning and upskilling in this area will become a necessity,” he stressed.
Lee commended NSJA for being proactive in preparing its members for the evolving digital media landscape.
“I am proud that NSJA has taken this initiative. Workshops like this not only serve as a platform for learning, but also as a space for journalists to question, understand and adapt to change,” he added.
He also reminded that in the era of Sarawak’s innovation-driven and sustainable digital economy, the role of an independent, tech-savvy and ethical media is more critical than ever.
The event also saw the presentation of certificates to participants from various media agencies who attended the workshop.
