Richard Mensah Adonu, a graduate researcher from Iowa State University’s Greenlee School of Journalism and Mass Communication, presented his research on artificial intelligence in journalism at the 2023 Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The GIJN Conference, widely regarded as the world’s largest and most prestigious gathering of investigative reporters, accepted less than 30% of submitted papers this year from a pool of over 400 submissions. Adonu was among only 23 researchers from U.S. universities chosen to present their work to over 1,700 journalists from 131 countries.
The conference, which has been described by Columbia Journalism Review as “the Olympics of investigative journalism,” features presentations from leading media organizations including The New York Times, BBC, and Reuters.
“Being selected to present at GIJN was incredibly competitive,” said Dr. Jan Lauren Boyles, Associate Director at the Greenlee School. “Richard’s research stood out for its practical applications and innovative approach to addressing real-world verification challenges.”
Adonu’s presentation, “Investigative Journalism in the New Age: Examining the Use of AI Tools in Investigative Journalism Practices,” looked at how journalists are using artificial intelligence tools in their work, with a focus on fighting misinformation and deepfakes. His research is particularly significant as it addresses a gap in current understanding of how AI tools can be implemented in resource-constrained journalism environments.
“The integration of AI in journalism isn’t just about new technology—it’s about protecting the truth in our digital world,” said Adonu. “Our research shows that while AI tools can help with fact-checking, many journalists, especially in rural areas, simply don’t have access to these tools.”
The study, part of Adonu’s broader research at Iowa State University, examined specific AI applications that journalists in Ghana are using to verify information and expose false claims. His work at Iowa State focuses on developing practical frameworks for implementing AI verification tools in rural and under-resourced newsrooms, with potential applications for small-town newspapers across the United States.
Conference attendees from organizations including The Washington Post and ProPublica expressed particular interest in how these findings could help newsrooms with limited resources. Several international journalism organizations have requested follow-up information about the verification methodologies outlined in Adonu’s presentation.
“We found a big gap between city newsrooms and rural newsrooms in terms of who can use AI verification tools,” Adonu explained. “This creates weak spots in our information system that can be exploited by people spreading false information.”
His ongoing research at Iowa State University builds on these findings by developing cost-effective verification tools specifically designed for rural American newsrooms. The project includes testing AI verification systems that can run on standard computers without requiring expensive specialized equipment.
The work has already been featured on the Greenlee School’s website and has drawn attention from journalism educators across the country. The National Association of Broadcasters has expressed interest in featuring Adonu’s research in an upcoming workshop on digital verification for small-market television stations.
“Richard’s work addresses one of the most pressing challenges in modern journalism,” said Professor Michael F. Dahlstrom, Director of the Greenlee School. “His research not only identifies problems but offers practical solutions that can be implemented by newsrooms regardless of their resource constraints.”
