Examining the effects of ChatGPT on Television News Production at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation
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Date
2025-01-28
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Namibia University of Science and Technology
Abstract
There is limited research on the specific effects and challenges of using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
technology, particularly ChatGPT, in newsrooms in Africa, and Namibia in particular. From preliminary
research, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) makes use of ChatGPT and other chatbots in the
production of television news as an AI tool, but it has been impossible to determine the extent thereto
from casual observations. Through qualitative research through conducting face-to-face interviews with
fifteen (15) journalists as the population of the study, this thesis aimed to examine the challenges
presented by ChatGPT and potentially other chatbots on television news production at NBC, while
evaluating their potential to enhance news-gathering processes and their effects from the African context.
The study highlights the dual impact of ChatGPT in Namibian television newsrooms, where it enhances
efficiency but struggles with cultural and linguistic representation. While AI streamlines news production,
its limitations in processing indigenous languages and reflecting local contexts raise concerns about
audience alienation and content authenticity. Ethical challenges, including job security and editorial
oversight, further emphasize the need for responsible AI integration. Ultimately, the findings call for
policies that balance AI’s benefits with Namibia’s socio-cultural realities, ensuring its use strengthens
rather than diminishes journalistic integrity.
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Keywords
Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, chatbots, Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, television news production, innovation, Natural Language Processing, AI linguistic diversity
Citation
Kadhila, A. T. (2025). Examining the effects of ChatGPT on Television News Production at the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation [Master’s thesis, Namibia University of Science and Technology].