Building Digital Trust, Privacy and Safety Skills for the AI and Immersive Media Era

Summary

The purpose of the event was to improve participants' understanding of how emerging technologies are changing the way people communicate, create, work and access information, while also exposing them to the risks that accompany these technologies. The training focused on helping participants build practical knowledge that would enable them to use AI responsibly, protect themselves online, identify misinformation and understand the ethical issues surrounding AI. It helps them understand the TIPSS related issue with AI and XR.

The event brought together young professionals from journalism, education, communications, technology, and freelance practice to explore the growing Trust, Identity, Privacy, Security and Safety challenges associated with Artificial Intelligence and immersive technologies.

The programme was delivered through three interactive sessions. The first session introduced participants to digital safety and cybersecurity, covering phishing, deepfakes, cyber hygiene, data protection, password security and recognising online threats. The second session focused on Artificial Intelligence and immersive media, where participants explored practical applications of AI, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, while learning how immersive technologies can influence public trust and how misinformation can spread through these environments. The final session introduced AI ethics and policy using the JournoTECH TIPSS Framework, enabling participants to discuss responsible AI use and develop draft AI policies relevant to their own organisations and professional practice.

All participants who attended were learning about immersive technologies for the first time and were very happy with what we have taught them including the convergence of AI and XR and how it has increased misinformation and how they could spot AI misinformation and deepfake content.

The event successfully created an interdisciplinary learning environment where participants from different professional backgrounds exchanged ideas, worked together during practical activities and discussed how responsible technology can benefit their sectors. This collaborative approach encouraged participants to learn from one another while exploring shared challenges around digital trust and online safety.

The post event evaluation showed that the workshop achieved its intended objectives. Participants reported increased awareness of cybersecurity threats, including phishing, malicious links, fake emails and deepfakes. Many indicated that they had developed a much broader understanding of Artificial Intelligence beyond conversational tools and gained practical knowledge of immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. Participants also demonstrated improved understanding of responsible AI, privacy, fairness, accountability and the importance of developing organisational AI policies.

The feedback highlighted the practical nature of the training, with participants describing the sessions as interactive, engaging and eye opening. Many expressed interest in attending future JournoTECH programmes, particularly on advanced AI tools, prompt engineering, fact checking and digital literacy. Participants also requested longer training sessions, access to presentation materials and future workshops in additional Nigerian states.

Overall, the event strengthened digital literacy, promoted responsible AI adoption and increased awareness of Trust, Identity, Privacy, Security and Safety challenges among young professionals. It also strengthened JournoTECH's growing work in public engagement around emerging technologies and demonstrated the value of bringing together professionals from different disciplines to discuss the responsible development and use of AI.

Highlights

JournoTECH successfully delivered an engaging one day training workshop in Port Harcourt that equipped young professionals with practical knowledge to navigate the rapidly changing world of Artificial Intelligence and immersive technologies.

The event brought together journalists, educators, communications professionals, technology practitioners and freelancers to explore one shared challenge: how to build trust, protect privacy and promote responsible use of AI in everyday professional practice.

Participants took part in practical sessions covering cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, immersive media and AI ethics. They learned how to recognise phishing attacks, identify deepfakes, protect personal information, understand Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, and develop responsible AI policies using the JournoTECH TIPSS Framework.

All participants who attended were learning about immersive technologies for the first time and were very happy with what we have taught them including the convergence of AI and XR and how it has increased misinformation and how they could spot AI misinformation and deepfake content.

For many participants, this was their first structured introduction to Artificial Intelligence beyond everyday chatbot use. Several commented that the training completely changed their understanding of what AI can do and how it should be used responsibly. Others described the workshop as eye opening, interactive and highly practical, highlighting the value of learning through demonstrations and group discussions.

The event also created an opportunity for professionals from different sectors to exchange ideas and discuss how emerging technologies are affecting journalism, education, research and communication in Nigeria.

The enthusiasm generated by the workshop continued beyond the event. Participants requested more advanced AI training, longer workshops, future sessions in other Nigerian states and opportunities to continue learning with JournoTECH.

This event demonstrates how practical public engagement can improve digital literacy, strengthen responsible AI adoption and prepare communities to engage confidently with emerging technologies while promoting trust, privacy, safety and inclusion.

Impact

The project created immediate social, professional and organisational impact by increasing participants' understanding of Trust, Identity, Privacy, Security and Safety challenges associated with Artificial Intelligence and immersive technologies.

The strongest impact was on digital literacy and responsible technology use. Participants reported greater confidence in recognising phishing attacks, deepfakes and other forms of online manipulation, while also developing a stronger understanding of cybersecurity practices that can help protect personal and organisational information. Many participants stated that they would apply these lessons in their workplaces and everyday digital activities.

The event also improved participants' understanding of responsible AI by introducing concepts such as privacy, fairness, accountability and transparency. Through practical exercises using the JournoTECH TIPSS Framework, participants explored how organisations can develop AI policies that encourage safe and ethical technology adoption.

From an organisational perspective, the event strengthened collaboration between journalists, educators, technology practitioners and researchers by providing a shared space to discuss common challenges and opportunities created by emerging technologies. These new connections have the potential to encourage future partnerships and knowledge exchange across sectors.

The project also contributes to wider policy and sector development by encouraging responsible AI practices at an early stage among professionals who influence public information, education and community engagement. Participants' strong interest in further training demonstrates an ongoing demand for practical capacity building in AI, cybersecurity and immersive technologies.

Overall, the project has laid a foundation for continued public engagement, stronger digital resilience and more responsible adoption of emerging technologies in Nigeria.

Lessons learned

Delivering this event provided several valuable lessons that will strengthen future JournoTECH training programmes.

One of the most significant lessons was the strong demand for practical and interactive learning. Participants consistently valued demonstrations, group discussions and hands on exercises more than traditional presentations. Activities such as drafting AI policies using the JournoTECH TIPSS Framework helped participants translate complex concepts into practical actions that could be applied in their own organisations.

The evaluation also showed that there is considerable interest in Artificial Intelligence among young professionals, but many participants are still at the early stages of understanding the technology. Future programmes would therefore continue to balance introductory concepts with practical applications that participants can immediately use in their work.

Participants also highlighted the need for longer training sessions. Many felt that a single day was not enough to fully explore topics such as AI, immersive media and cybersecurity. We hope in future we will have bigger funding to extend future workshops to two or three days and would provide more time for practical activities, discussions and networking.

There were also important logistical lessons. Participants experienced challenges with internet connectivity at the venue. These issues affected the event schedule and demonstrated the importance of having additional broadband to cover where the venue broadband is either slow or having unexpected interruption.

Finally, the feedback confirmed the importance of sharing learning resources after the event. Participants requested presentation slides, certificates and continued engagement through future training opportunities. Providing these resources will help reinforce learning and maintain connections with participants beyond the workshop itself.

Outcomes & outputs

The event successfully delivered the activities outlined in the original proposal and produced a number of tangible outcomes and outputs.

The workshop brought together young professionals from journalism, education, communications, technology and freelance practice to explore Trust, Identity, Privacy, Security and Safety challenges associated with Artificial Intelligence and immersive technologies. This interdisciplinary participation encouraged knowledge exchange across sectors and created opportunities for collaboration beyond the event.

Three specialist learning sessions were delivered covering digital safety and cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and immersive media, and AI ethics and policy. Participants received practical training on recognising phishing attacks, identifying deepfakes, protecting personal information, understanding immersive technologies and applying responsible AI principles within their professional work.

One of the key outputs of the event was the introduction of the JournoTECH TIPSS Framework as a practical tool for developing responsible AI policies. Participants applied the framework during interactive exercises to begin drafting AI policies relevant to their own organisations and professional contexts.

The event also increased awareness of emerging technologies among participants who had limited previous exposure to AI and immersive media. Evaluation responses demonstrated improved understanding of cybersecurity risks, responsible AI, digital trust, misinformation and ethical technology use.

The project strengthened JournoTECH's public engagement activities by expanding its work in AI literacy, digital trust and responsible technology adoption. It also increased visibility for JournoTECH's work among journalists, educators and technology professionals in Nigeria.

Participant feedback identified strong demand for continued engagement through additional workshops on prompt engineering, AI tools, fact checking, digital literacy and AI ethics. Requests were also made for future training in other Nigerian states including Bayelsa, Imo, Lagos and Akwa Ibom, indicating opportunities for scaling the programme.

Additional outputs include strengthened professional networks established during the event, practical learning resources delivered during the sessions and evidence gathered through participant evaluation that will inform future programme design and public engagement activities.

The event demonstrated that there is significant interest in responsible AI education among young professionals in Nigeria and established a strong foundation for future interdisciplinary collaboration, capacity building and public engagement around emerging technologies.