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A significant fear in which I have when starting my course is the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) usage in spaces such as journalism. Its increasing usage within society, especially in creative spaces, has me fearful that journalism is no longer a necessity within society; an individual can just use it to write whatever they need to be written in a much shorter period of time.

However, as Dr T. J. Thompson from RMIT University says that AI is being used to spread misleading or deceptive content because of AI's own biases (2025, Generative AI and Journalism: Content, Journalistic Perceptions, and Audience Experiences). Due to this instability within journalistic content, it means that journalism made by human beings is going to become a larger necessity within the media landscape; reliable content, knowledge, and being somewhere where one can read a truthful and honest opinion.

It is also very necessary to fill the media landscape with human created and researched journalism, as AI-generated journalism is extremely hard to notice, leading to the spread of misinformation, and a lack of transparency to individuals (Dr T. J. Thompson, 2025, Generative AI and Journalism: Content, Journalistic Perceptions, and Audience Experiences).

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AI-generated journalism falls short of audiences’ expectations: report

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A new industry report has found audiences and journalists are growing increasingly concerned by generative artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism.

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Sebastian Iannacito, Bachelor of Journalism

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Sebastian Iannacito, Bachelor of Journalism

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Journalism will be affected by AI. Many journalists will use AI as a tool to help them find credible sources, others who will pose as journalists can use it to create fake news in no time at all. Social media is the driving force of alternate news sources. It creates vacuums of information based on individuals inputs into the algorithm so they will inform their own bias's with unconscious habits. We already see this in the form of grifters in the health space. Making unqualified statements online that influence uninformed viewers as pseudo experts because of their large followings. The article attached from the united nations posted on 02/05/2025 showed how easy it is to manipulate and discredit seasoned journalists through deep fakes and subtle changes to the 'reported news' that an uninformed or naive viewer can misconstrued as true.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming sectors from healthcare to education, with its impact on journalism being particularly profound. As the media landscape evolves, AI presents both powerful tools and significant threats to press freedom, integrity, and public trust.

On this World Press Freedom Day, we explore how AI is reshaping journalism, examining both the risks it poses and the opportunities it creates.

AI and the Rise of Disinformation

Journalists today face a growing tide of disinformation and misinformation. As public trust in traditional news media declines, audiences increasingly turn to social media platforms where professional journalism must compete with unverified and often misleading content.

AI tools are being used maliciously to generate convincing but false content, including articles, images, audio clips, and deepfake videos. This makes it harder for the public to distinguish fact from fiction. The rapid spread of such content overwhelms newsrooms, which lack the capacity to verify every claim. This challenge, in turn, fuels further distrust in the media.

A striking example occurred in early 2024, when a journalist from France 24 was targeted with a deepfake that manipulated both his voice and article headline. The altered content distorted his reporting on President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Ukraine, spreading disinformation and undermining his credibility. Such tactics illustrate how even seasoned professionals can fall victim to AI-driven deception.

Economic Pressures

Traditional news outlets are under significant financial strain. Declining advertising revenue, reduced subscriptions, and the dominance of digital platforms have eroded their economic models. These pressures can lead to editorial compromises, such as prioritising trending content over public-interest reporting or aligning coverage with political interests.

AI may worsen this crisis. Automation could potentially replace not only reporters, but also designers, editors, and distribution staff. With fewer journalists on the ground, we risk losing investigative reporting, local news coverage, and the rich storytelling that defines quality journalism.

Trust, Deepfakes, and Accountability

As awareness grows about how easily content can be altered, public skepticism rises. Deepfakes and other AI-generated media contribute to an erosion of trust in the news. The lack of transparency around how AI systems operate further complicates accountability. Without clear standards and oversight, AI risks undermining the credibility that journalism depends on.

Professional journalists are also vulnerable to reputational harm from AI-based impersonation or manipulation. This threatens the safety and effectiveness of those who report in the public interest.

AI's Potential to Boost Efficiency

Despite these concerns, AI offers valuable tools for journalists. It can process vast volumes of data, from official documents and transcripts to videos and social media, far faster than traditional methods.

Time-consuming tasks such as transcription, keyword searching, trend analysis, and even initial drafting can be streamlined. This frees up journalists to focus on in-depth investigation, fact-checking, and narrative storytelling, the core tenets of high-quality journalism.

Expanding the Newsroom's Capabilities

AI is not only changing how journalism is produced, but also what it can achieve. Data journalism, for example, benefits from AI's ability to identify patterns, anomalies, and correlations in large datasets. This supports more insightful and comprehensive reporting.

Natural language processing tools can summarise lengthy documents, highlight key quotes, and translate content into multiple languages. These advances help make journalism more accessible to global audiences.

Some newsrooms also use AI to personalise content for readers, increasing engagement and retention. When applied thoughtfully and ethically, AI can enhance the speed, depth, and reach of journalism without compromising its principles.

The Path Forward

AI is here to stay, but so is the need for accurate, credible, and human-centered journalism. Journalists must continue to verify and contextualise AI-generated information, especially on matters of public concern.

Supporting professional journalists and local media outlets is more vital than ever. By investing in their capacity to uphold editorial standards, we ensure that journalism remains a trusted foundation of democratic societies.

On World Press Freedom Day, we are reminded that protecting the press means embracing innovation responsibly-and always putting truth first.

Additional links:

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Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Journalism: Risks and Opportunities

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For World Press Freedom Day 2025, we explore how AI is reshaping journalism, examining both the risks and opportunities.

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Melanie Schilter (Bachelor of Communication)

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Melanie Schilter (Bachelor of Communication)

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One of the key challenges for the future of communication lies in the underutilization of certain traditional yet powerful tools, such as radio. According to Servaes (2013), radio, especially community radio, remains one of the most effective participatory communication tools in rural areas of developing countries due to its wide accessibility. However, its full potential in communication for development has not yet been realized. Rediscovering and reinvesting in radio, particularly when integrated with the internet, offers an opportunity to enhance participation and make communication efforts more sustainable. Another opportunity highlighted by Servaes is the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to support good governance. This is particularly effective when these technologies are adapted to local contexts, such as through the use of local languages in application and operation systems (Servaes, 2013, p 2). These insights show that blending traditional media with modern ICT tools can help overcome participation barriers and create more inclusive, effective communication strategies in the future. With this in mind, for my country Peru, where many rural communities still lack access to digital infrastructure, radio, especially community radio in local languages, remains a non-refundable opportunity to empower voices, foster participation, and support sustainable development. If effectively combined with ICT, it could bridge the communication gap and become a lasting tool for inclusive governance and social change.