UGent Warning: AI in Journalism Could Threaten Jobs
gent, donderdag, 26 juni 2025.
Researchers from Ghent University have conducted a study on the impact of AI on journalism. The study highlights concerns about the effect of AI on employment in the media. Media companies see potential in AI for efficient tasks but question how their journalistic value will be maintained when people get their news from chatbots. Despite these concerns, editorial teams emphasise that AI will never fully replace human journalists, as AI makes mistakes and cannot think critically.
Researchers Warn of AI’s Impact on Journalism
Researchers from Ghent University (UGent), Sarah Van Leuven and Emma Verhoeven, have conducted a study on the impact of AI on journalism. The research shows that there are concerns about the influence of AI on employment in the media. Media companies see potential in AI for efficient tasks, such as converting text to speech and personalising content for users, but they wonder how their journalistic value will be preserved when people get their news from chatbots [1].
Concerns Over Employment
Media companies such as DPG and Roularta have recently laid off journalists, possibly in anticipation of a future where AI takes over certain tasks. Despite concerns about AI, editorial teams stress that AI will never completely replace human journalists, as AI makes mistakes and cannot think critically or creatively [1]. Sarah Van Leuven, one of the researchers, states: ‘You can use those language models to make things more efficient, but they still make mistakes and cannot think critically or creatively, like humans.’
Potential and Challenges
The media companies generally share similar views, but they are cautious when it comes to job roles and employment. Emma Verhoeven, co-researcher, notes: ‘They always emphasise that experiments with AI are not meant to see how much can be done with fewer people. But if jobs are lost, the technology will certainly help to handle certain easier tasks, such as transcriptions or creating summaries.’ Media companies already produce a lot of news with few people, but there is a critical lower limit [1].
Ethical Considerations
Chief editors indicate that they will provide enough resistance to ensure that sufficient staff remain. There is concern about future cost-cutting measures where AI will play a role. Entry into journalism is becoming more difficult due to changes. Emma Verhoeven stresses: ‘The chief editors also state that they will provide enough resistance to ensure that sufficient staff remain. However, I believe that certain profiles will not be replaced in the long term, and moreover, entry into journalism will become more difficult.’ [1]
Practical Applications
VTM NIEUWS journalist Jeroen Van der Auwera conducted a practical test to see how AI can assist in blocking courses and passing exams. He took courses in European law and international law and tried to pass the exam within four days with the help of AI. The results of this experiment can be seen in a video [2].
Future Perspectives
From 2027, the UGent science park in Zwijnaarde will be the location of the AI Campus Hub. This complex is intended to become the epicentre of Flemish ambitions regarding AI and to elevate the existing technology ecosystem in Ghent to a higher level. The goal is to create one of the largest concentrations of AI researchers in Europe, with around 1000 data scientists, 75% of whom will come from industry [3].