Empowering African Journalism Education: Our New Project on AI and Combating Disinformation

CAMECO is excited to announce that an innovative project on AI in journalism in collaboration with the Erich Brost Institute of International Journalism (EBI) based at the TU Dortmund and the Ugandan based partner Media Challenge Initiative (MCI), has been approved by the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The one-year project, titled “Integrating AI Competences for Fighting Disinformation into Journalism Education in Eastern Africa,” is funded by the BMZ fund for streghtening media capacities.

It aims to equip journalism educators, practicing journalists and university students in Uganda and Kenya with the skills needed to navigate responsibly and effectively in the age of AI.

In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, AI driven digital platforms and tools have created both incredible opportunities and significant challenges. While online media allows journalists to reach wider audiences and enhance engagement, it also accelerates the spread of mis- and disinformation. Traditional journalism training in Eastern Africa lacks the incorporation of AI knowledge and tools to address these challenges, creating an urgent need for targeted capacity-building.

Our project focuses on bridging this gap through a multi-faceted approach:

• AI Media Lab: A practical training hub will be established at MCI’s Media Hub in Kampala,. The lab will provide hands-on experience for journalism educators, students, and practicing journalists using AI-powered tools to improve reporting and combat disinformation.
• Curriculum Development: A three-module curriculum on AI in journalism will be created and piloted. These modules, designed for both online and offline use, will be freely available to universities and media outlets.
• Training of Trainers: 22 selected journalism educators from Uganda and Kenya will participate in a five-day workshop to master AI applications in journalism and then multiply this knowledge across their institutions.
• Pilot Teaching: Around 400 journalism students across participating universities in Uganda and Kenya will experience the new AI-powered curriculum first-hand, ensuring practical, real-world application of the tools and techniques taught.

The project will collaborate with over 10 universities in Uganda and 5 in Kenya, such as the University of Nairobi and Daystar University, as well as media outlets and the African Journalism Education Network (AJEN). This collaboration ensures that the benefits of the project extend beyond the initial pilot phase, creating long-term impact and regional multiplier effects.

Why this matters: Studies show that AI adoption in African newsrooms is still limited, with only a fraction of journalists currently using these tools in a coordinated way. By training educators and students in AI-assisted reporting, the project will empower the next generation of journalists to produce accurate, multi-perspective, and ethically responsible news.

Through this initiative, CAMECO, EBI, and MCI are combining their expertise to provide innovative, practical solutions that respond to the urgent need for AI integration in journalism education. By doing so, we aim to strengthen the media ecosystem in Eastern Africa, improve the quality of reporting, and equip journalists with the tools needed to fight disinformation effectively.

Stay tuned for updates as we launch the AI Media Lab, initiate training sessions, and roll out the curriculum in Uganda and Kenya to empower both educators and students.