In brief
Confidence Musariri, Acting Manager of Namibia Press Agency, said his outlet already uses artificial intelligence to reduce costs and broaden its audience. He urged Global South news agencies to collaborate directly and resist Western gatekeepers while leveraging social media to counter false narratives. Musariri looks to the World Media Summit in Beijing to secure cooperation agreements and learn next‑generation AI solutions.
In Windhoek on October 31, Confidence Musariri, Acting Manager for Editorial and Operations at the Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), told Xinhua that his agency is already using artificial intelligence to cut costs and expand audiences, while calling on Global South news outlets to collaborate and challenge enduring stereotypes.
Musariri explained that NAMPA has integrated AI tools into its newsroom to automatically edit and translate articles, allowing staff to publish stories faster and at lower cost. The new system also helps the agency target different demographics and expand its audience reach beyond Namibia’s borders.
He added that media in the Global South still relies too heavily on Western news agencies for verification and distribution. “There has to be exchanges within the agencies within the Global South for us to share the content directly with one another,” Musariri said.
Musariri’s remarks come amid accusations that Africa is often portrayed as a single, monolithic entity in international media. He said that such generalized views obscure each country’s unique context and undermine investment and national prestige.
“I believe we must adopt the usage of social media where every content creator tells the story the way they see it,” Musariri said.
I think social media is playing a bigger role in demystifying the stereotypes and false narratives.
He urged global South outlets to embrace the emerging momentum of social media, which he viewed as a way to break the constraints of conventional journalism. The platform would let reporters deliver their own perspectives without being filtered through traditional gatekeepers.
Musariri also highlighted the importance of cooperation agreements that go beyond traditional news exchange. He said NAMPA is seeking hands‑on training in next‑generation AI at the upcoming World Media Summit in Beijing.
The summit, which convenes media executives from around the world, will provide Kasariri with a chance to meet other Global South agencies and discuss joint solutions to AI implementation issues, including plagiarism detection and automated fact‑checking.
According to Musariri, the summit would also offer a platform to secure concrete agreements for real‑time content sharing, thereby reducing the need for Western intermediaries.
In closing, Musariri stressed that the Global South’s future in news production depends on harnessing AI responsibly while fostering regional unity and countering enduring stereotypes. He expressed optimism that the World Media Summit would help the Namibia Press Agency deepen its AI capabilities and broaden its global reach.
