This study investigated the perceptions of practicing journalists in Enugu State, Nigeria, regarding the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on job security in the digital media era. Grounded in Technological Determinism Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory, the research adopted a quantitative survey design to examine how journalists understand and respond to the growing integration of AI in journalism practice. A total of 212 respondents were selected from 450 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)-registered journalists in Enugu State using proportionate stratified sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson correlation, independent samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA with SPSS version 25. Findings revealed that while a majority of journalists (79.2%) were aware of AI in journalism, more than half (51.4%) had never personally used AI tools, indicating a gap between awareness and practical adoption. A significant proportion (63.2%) believed that AI could reduce journalism employment opportunities, reflecting moderate to high concerns about job security. The study also found a statistically significant negative relationship between AI adoption and perceived job insecurity, while professional experience was associated with higher levels of concern about job stability. Coping strategies among journalists were moderate, with specialization in less automatable areas emerging as the most common adaptive response. Additionally, AI literacy was identified as a strong predictor of willingness to collaborate with AI systems, explaining a significant portion of variation in responses. The study concludes that although AI poses challenges to journalism employment, improving AI literacy and providing targeted training can enhance journalists’ adaptability and resilience in an evolving digital media environment.
Ifeoma Love Eze (Mon,) studied this question.