"Would you like me to extend this section to flow directly into the next part…"

That line appeared at the end of a story in one of Kenya's newspapers a while ago. It was in the print edition, not online, where it could have been easily fixed.

By the time most of us had finished our morning chai (tea), the screenshots were everywhere. The paper had become the joke of the day.

It's easy to laugh. It's perhaps even easier to blame the reporter. Somebody copied and pasted, and nobody caught it.

But is that really where the problem lies?

That story must have passed through more than one pair of hands before it reached the printing press. Not one of them stopped it.

So who is responsible for that?

I've been putting this question to newsroom leaders recently.

"The reporter," says one.

"The subs," says another.

"Probably the editor?"

And quite often, a long pause.

When I edited BBC Focus on Africa, every programme carried the weight of everyone who had touched it, all the way up to me. And when a complaint came in, I took responsibility as editor. But I would obviously investigate the lapse and try to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Accountability didn't shift just because the way we worked did.

AI hasn't changed who answers for a mistake. What it has changed is how stories get made.

Journalists are already using it, in different ways and for different things. In many newsrooms, the organisation is still working out where the boundaries should be.

And where those boundaries aren't clear, people inevitably make their own decisions.

Questions about how reporters use AI must continue to be asked. But isn't it high time some of those questions were directed at us, the people who lead newsrooms?

What can AI be used for, and what's off limits?

What must a human check before anything goes out?

Who owns those rules, and who reviews them as the tools change?

Because it's difficult to catch a mistake you never decided to look for.

It’s not scandalous that many newsrooms are still working through these questions.

But the next screenshot could be from your paper or platform, and when it is, nobody will ask which tool wrote it. They'll ask who was in charge.

We're running a free masterclass for newsroom leaders on exactly this. How do you move from individual AI use to institutional adoption?

You can sign up here. It’s happening on 20th October at 14.00hrs EAT or 11.00GMT.

https://form.jotform.com/262772576671065

YLabs - Knowledge and Communications Lead

YLabs is seeking a Knowledge and Communications Lead to drive strategic storytelling and communications for one of its largest partnerships, a multi-year collaboration focused on testing innovative approaches to programmes for young people across Africa.

Deadline; Rolling

Apply here

MultiChoice Malawi - Communications Manager

MultiChoice Malawi is seeking an experienced Communications Manager to lead strategic communications, strengthen corporate reputation, and drive stakeholder engagement initiatives.

Deadline; October 12

Apply here

Henry Nxumalo Foundation — Southern Africa Accountability Journalism Project Grants

The Southern Africa Accountability Journalism Project awards reporting grants of $1,500 to $3,000, plus editorial and production support, for investigations that expose wrongdoing and abuses of power in the SADC region; freelance journalists and staff reporters or editors based in South Africa, eSwatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, or Mozambique may apply, and cross-border collaborations are favoured.

Deadline; Rolling

Apply here

Strategic Communications Advisor, Oxfam in Africa

This is a dynamic and high-impact role at the heart of Oxfam’s influencing work. You will shape and deliver strategic communications that enhance the Director’s profile, ensuring their engagements, ranging from high-level summits to media appearances, are impactful, coherent, and aligned with Oxfam’s priorities.

Apply here

Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards 2026

The Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards recognise journalists and media professionals across Africa for published work that raises awareness on key social issues, with winners receiving USD 500 per category across print, online, radio, and multimedia formats. Category one ("More Than a Mother") covers breaking infertility stigma, girl education, women's empowerment, ending child marriage, ending FGM, and stopping GBV, with a deadline of 30 September 2026; category two ("Diabetes & Hypertension") covers prevention and early detection awareness, with a deadline of 30 October 2026.

Apply here

Deadline: 30th October

We work with media organisations to turn big ideas into real impact — integrating AI, navigating digital shifts, and rethinking editorial strategy for the future. Curious about what that could look like for you? Let’s connect. Send me an email.