AI as an Aid in Journalism: Ethics Above Technology
amsterdam, donderdag, 4 september 2025.
According to Gazeta Express, artificial intelligence should serve only as a tool in journalism and not as a news creator. Ethical standards must be respected when using AI in the news process. Experts emphasise the importance of integrity and combating disinformation, while advocating for the professionalisation of journalism. At a recent conference in Skopje, the need to promote media literacy and strengthen cooperation between press agencies was discussed.
AI as an Aid in Journalism: Ethics Above Technology
According to Gazeta Express, artificial intelligence should serve only as a tool in journalism and not as a news creator. Ethical standards must be respected when using AI in the news process. Experts emphasise the importance of integrity and combating disinformation, while advocating for the professionalisation of journalism. At a recent conference in Skopje, the need to promote media literacy and strengthen cooperation between press agencies was discussed [1].
Technology in Practice: The Example of Axel Springer
A concrete example of the use of AI in journalism can be found at Axel Springer, a major media company in Germany. Here, ChatGPT is used internally for research and text production, which helps editorial teams digitise processes. Automated workflows speed up production without compromising journalistic standards. Fact-checking and personalisation gain new tools and challenges thanks to AI, evolving the roles of journalists into those of curators and editors [2].
Benefits and Challenges
The widespread use of AI offers significant benefits, such as efficiency gains and faster news production. However, this technology also raises ethical questions about transparency and accountability. A concrete example is the article published by the newspaper Bild about a supposed casino bug in Switzerland, which contained many errors and was partially generated by AI. This incident underscores the need for transparency and the requirement to label AI-generated content, as mandated by the European AI Regulation [2].
Ethical Considerations and the Future
Experts warn of the risk that AI could present false information as facts, endangering democratic opinion formation. Jessica Heesen, a professor at the University of Tübingen, states that the loss of trust in media communication could be a serious setback for our democratic society if we can no longer determine whether a text was written by a human or an AI. Additionally, they stress the importance of data protection, bias, and quality control when using AI [2].
Media Literacy and Cooperation
Conference participants in Skopje emphasised the importance of media literacy and cooperation between press agencies. In times of war, natural disasters, and crises, this cooperation is crucial. The digitisation process of the archive of BTA, a Bulgarian news agency, illustrates how old information can be preserved and made accessible to future generations. BTA’s archive includes 6 million pages of texts, 2 million photographs, and more than 5,000 boxes of newspapers, and the digitisation process will be completed next year [1].
Education and Responsibility
The professionalisation of journalism is crucial, especially in an era of rapid technological changes. Media experts are divided on the long-term impacts of AI in journalism; some see efficiency gains, while others warn of risks to quality and diversity. The education of media-literate citizens is becoming increasingly important to help them recognise and critically evaluate AI-generated content [2].