The ethical revolution: challenges and reflections in the face of the integration of artificial intelligence in digital journalism

Abstract

The artificial intelligence (AI) tools in editorial departments have become common practice within news organisations, which poses challenges for digital journalism. It treads new terrain for both media professionals and their audiences, and it is safe to assume there is no going back to the way things were. These advances in the field require new frameworks and codes of ethics that include ethical principles to mitigate the use of AI in journalism. The fast incorporation of AI into media production processes is marked by a tendency towards the loss of citizens’ trust in the information that media offers, political polarization, and the increasing impact of misinformation. This article analyses the perception of communication professionals in this new scene through the analysis of 99 codes of ethics and 14 international press associations. In addition, audience perception is addressed through a survey taken by nearly 2,000 people. The results indicate that both the public and journalists are worried about misinformation that AI might cause and the potential erosion of trust between journalist and the public. Overwhelmingly, people are advocating for external regulation of its use to preserve the values, the ethical principles, and good practices of journalistic work