A seven-day special training workshop is underway at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) to enhance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and related skills in journalism. On Sunday (May 3) morning, the second batch of the workshop titled “AI-Powered Journalism: Opportunities, Risks and Digital Security” was held at the DRU’s Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium. Around 50 journalists participated in this intensive training session.
In the first session, Ariful Islam Arman, Head of New Media at Dhaka Post, demonstrated the use of various tools including Gemini, ChatGPT, and Google AI Studio. The second session featured discussions on data journalism and information analysis techniques, led by Maliha Tabassum, Assistant Professor at Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). The final session of the day was conducted by Dr. MD Saiful Alam Chowdhury, Associate Professor at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka.
Participants showed the greatest interest in NotebookLM, a digital assistant for research, data analysis, and rapid content creation. The tool’s ability to extract insights and generate summaries from large volumes of archived documents by analyzing multiple files and sources simultaneously was a key highlight. It also reinforced the idea that AI tools can make journalistic work more efficient and dynamic. The workshop further covered strategies to combat misinformation through digital reporting, social media storytelling, and the use of Google Trends.
The final session, again conducted by Dr. MD Saiful Alam Chowdhury, elaborated in detail on techniques for countering misinformation using digital reporting, social media storytelling, and Google Trends.
Organized with the support of XYZ Cloud Bangladesh and Gamplify, the workshop will continue until May 8. Training sessions are being held daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, with DRU members participating in seven batches over seven days.
According to organizer Gamplify, the day-long sessions provide hands-on training ranging from fundamental concepts of AI in journalism to practical applications. Participants are learning how to gather information quickly and accurately, write and edit reports, and create compelling headlines using AI tools. Special emphasis is also placed on identifying fake news, misinformation, and deepfakes, as well as using fact-checking tools. Ethical considerations and risk management in AI usage are also key discussion points.
DRU General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel said, “As the speed of information increases, so does the risk of misinformation. Without proper knowledge of AI, journalists will fall behind. Therefore, this training is a highly relevant and timely initiative for our members.”
Mahfuzur Rahman, Managing Director of XYZ Cloud Bangladesh, said, “It is essential to enhance journalists’ skills to মোকাবিলা challenges such as misinformation and deepfakes. We aim to build a technologically skilled and responsible journalism community.”
In Sunday’s first session, Ariful Islam Arman once again demonstrated the use of tools such as Gemini, ChatGPT, and Google AI Studio. The second session was conducted by Maliha Tabassum of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), focusing on data journalism and analytical techniques.
The final session of the day was conducted by Dr. MD Saiful Alam Chowdhury of the University of Dhaka, who подробно explained strategies to combat misinformation through digital reporting, social media storytelling, and the use of Google Trends.
Mahmud Sohel, DRU’s Information Technology and Training Secretary, said, “DRU members are participating in this training with great enthusiasm. This initiative is primarily aimed at enhancing their skills. The training offers hands-on learning opportunities, including how to reach a wider audience with content. As a result, journalists are becoming more enriched. We hope participants will effectively apply the knowledge gained here in their professional fields.”
Among those present at the event were DRU President Abu Saleh Akon, Joint Secretary Md. Jafar Iqbal, Organizing Secretary MM Jasim, Publicity and Publication Secretary Mizan Chowdhury, Hospitality Secretary Aminul Haque Bhuiyan, and Member Secretary of the IT and Training Sub-Committee Al Amin Azad, among other leaders.
Trainers emphasized that in the current era, professional advancement is nearly impossible without AI-based skills. Therefore, journalists must adapt to this technology as quickly as possible.
The training workshop began last Saturday and will continue until Friday.
DBTech/SH/EK/OR
