DEEPFAKES IN NEWS SOURCING: A STUDY OF LAGOS JOURNALISTS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of deepfakes; artificially generated videos, images, and audio, poses a substantial threat to news sourcing and the credibility of journalistic practice. This study critically examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of journalists in Lagos, Nigeria, concerning deepfakes, with the objective of assessing their levels of awareness, perceived ability to identify deepfakes, and experiences confronting such content in professional contexts. Utilizing a quantitative approach, data were collected from 400 journalists drawn from print, radio, television, and online platforms in Lagos, Nigeria. For the quantitative approach, four news gatekeepers were also interviewed. Analysis reveals high levels of awareness (93.5%) and self-reported confidence in identifying deepfakes (93%), yet exposes notable gaps in technical knowledge and a lack of clear distinction between deepfakes and other misinformation forms. The study recommends sustained training, the integration of deepfake detection skills into professional development and newsroom policy, and investment in technological tools to enhance detection and verification practices. These measures are vital to safeguarding journalistic integrity in an evolving digital information landscape.