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In “Will artificial intelligence be the death of journalism?”, JP O’Malley explores how AI is reshaping newswork—both empowering journalists and threatening foundations of the profession.
The article begins by recalling examples where generative AI imitated real bylines or launched fake outlets: one scandal involved a bogus health-column ostensibly written by “Adriana Acosta-Cortez”; another created a phantom version of The Bournemouth Observer. These cases underscore how AI can mimic journalism convincingly while bypassing accountability.
O’Malley cites James Barrat’s prediction that AI may eliminate 30 percent of jobs—including writers—by 2030, arguing that newsrooms could phase out humans once AI content becomes indistinguishable. But others push back: writer Tobias Rose-Stockwell insists that verification, trust, and context still require human judgment.
A recurring theme is the hallucination problem—AI fabricating false or misleading information with confidence. Machines cannot reliably self-correct or validate what they generate; humans remain essential for fact-checking and interpretive depth. Technology ethicist Tomasz Hollanek is quoted as urging newsrooms to create clear guidelines: allow AI for assistance, but always with human oversight.
Petra Molnar adds that AI’s invisible influence over news feeds and platform algorithms already distorts power dynamics. She warns that speed, engagement, and virality can trump depth and fairness, further undermining accountability journalism.
Despite risks, O’Malley acknowledges AI’s utility as a productivity tool: automatic transcription, summarization, data mining, and workflow support can free journalists to focus on complex investigations. But the consensus among experts is firm: AI must remain an assistant, not a substitute.
The piece ends with a caution: journalism’s survival hinges on human agency, ethics, and critical thought. If AI becomes a black box replacing human editors and fact-checkers, journalism as we know it could fade—and with it, public trust and a reliable record of affairs.
Reference –
https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/09/will-artificial-intelligence-be-the-death-of-journalism/