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The media and journalism community acknowledges the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on society and is committed to ensuring its responsible integration into journalism. AI presents both opportunities and risks, transforming how news is gathered, analyzed, and disseminated. While AI has the potential to enhance journalism, it must be developed and applied in ways that respect human rights, democracy, and press freedom. Journalists play a crucial role in safeguarding the right to information, and AI should support, rather than undermine, this responsibility.
To maintain journalistic integrity, AI systems must adhere to core ethical principles such as truthfulness, fairness, accountability, and respect for privacy. Human oversight remains essential, with journalists retaining control over editorial decisions and AI usage being transparent and purpose-driven. AI systems must undergo independent evaluations to ensure compliance with journalistic ethics, and media outlets must remain fully accountable for all content they publish, including that generated or assisted by AI.
Transparency is key in AI’s role in journalism. Media organizations must disclose AI involvement in content production and ensure authenticity and traceability in their reporting. A clear distinction should be maintained between authentic and AI-generated content to prevent misinformation. AI-driven content personalization should also promote diverse perspectives and uphold the integrity of information, preventing bias or manipulation.
Journalists, media organizations, and journalism advocacy groups must actively participate in AI governance, ensuring policies protect the integrity of the press and uphold democratic values. Furthermore, AI developers must recognize and fairly compensate media outlets and journalists for the use of their content, respecting intellectual property rights and ensuring ethical AI applications in journalism.
By adhering to these principles, the media industry can harness AI’s potential while preserving ethical standards, sustaining public trust, and ensuring journalism remains a pillar of democracy.