The United States Consulate General in Lagos has backed a Nigerian-led initiative to develop standards for disclosing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism, as media professionals seek to strengthen transparency and public trust.
The initiative was discussed at a co-design workshop at the consulate on 15 September 2026, where journalists and editors considered how news organisations could consistently inform audiences when AI contributes to news production.
Oluwamayowa Tijani, a doctoral researcher at Northumbria University in the United Kingdom and director of projects at the Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation, convened the project.
The proposed framework seeks to establish practical guidelines for explaining when and how AI is used in journalistic work, including the production of written reports, images and videos.
Julie McKay, public affairs officer at the US Consulate General in Lagos, welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by emerging technologies.
The project draws on research into AI adoption in Nigerian newsrooms, which identified inconsistencies in how media organisations disclose their use of the technology.
According to Tijani, journalists may support transparency in principle but face practical difficulties in determining which applications of AI require disclosure and how such information should be communicated to readers and viewers.
The proposed guidelines recommend that news organisations publish clear policies explaining their use of AI. They also propose visible labels for AI-generated images and videos, alongside editorial notes where AI has made a material contribution to a report.
Routine uses, such as spelling and punctuation corrections, would not require individual disclosure under the proposals.
The approach aims to help audiences distinguish between AI-generated content and material produced or substantially developed by journalists, while clarifying the role of human editorial oversight.
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Tijani said a common disclosure approach could help Nigerian newsrooms communicate more clearly with audiences about their use of AI.
Participating organisations committed to testing the proposed standard within six months, with the experience expected to inform further development of the framework.
The proposals have not yet become a mandatory, industry-wide standard. Their effectiveness will depend in part on how they are applied in practice and whether audiences find the disclosures clear and useful.
As AI becomes more widely used for research, transcription, translation, editing, and content generation, clear disclosure practices are emerging as an important issue for news organisations.
The Nigerian initiative aims to develop a consistent approach that enables media organisations to benefit from AI-assisted workflows while maintaining editorial accountability and keeping audiences informed about how news content is produced.
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