Ethical Journalism in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Testing Conscience under the Authority of the Algorithm
Author: Nasreen Bakara
Tolstoy, the famed Russian philosopher, once said that newspapers are the clarion of peace, the voice of the nation, the sharp sword of truth and the refuge of the oppressed; they shake the thrones of tsars and topple the monuments of tyrants. In Tolstoy’s time, journalism derived its power from exposing injustice and raising its voice in defence of truth. Today, with the rise of artificial intelligence capable of generating news at astonishing speed, that mission seems more complex than ever. The speed and volume of digital content can drown out truth and distort credibility, making adherence to journalistic ethics a major challenge. This underscores the importance of every journalist’s individual responsibility: relying solely on technology is not enough; adherence to ethical codes, critical judgement and the use of tools that ensure transparency and integrity must be combined. Journalistic ethics are tested not only on paper but in the real world.
Values of Journalism Amid a Flood of Algorithms
Journalistic ethics are the first line of defence for the integrity of the service and the public’s trust; they are living values—rather than rigid rules—that protect credibility and guide behaviour in every published word. Although adherence to these values is a matter of free will, editors place their trust in journalists’ conscience to deliver original, accurate and responsible content. But in the era of AI, where information is more accessible than ever, new challenges have emerged—from plagiarism to eroding accuracy—raising the ethical question: can values still guide the profession amid the advance of machines? The answer seems to lie in three pillars that offer a path to protect ethical standards without stifling innovation.
1. Conscience First: Individual Responsibility Before the Institution
Individual moral responsibility is the cornerstone of fair journalism; no law can replace professional conscience. Advocates of deontological ethics hold that adherence to moral rules is an absolute duty regardless of outcomes. Therefore the journalist bears a constant responsibility to act with integrity, avoid plagiarism and adhere to the profession’s code—even in the absence of supervision. This philosophy shows that the true journalist does what is right because it is right, not because he is being watched, highlighting the importance of instilling this moral awareness in a digital environment where human oversight is scarce and technological temptations abound.
2. Virtue as a Guide for the Journalistic Conscience
Virtue ethics provide a philosophical framework that emphasises intentions and inner conscience over strict rule-following. Professor Jitili Tilak notes that this theory aligns with core journalistic principles such as honesty, respect, responsibility, justice, truth and self-restraint. In the AI era, the role of virtue becomes clearer: journalists committed to ethical use of technological tools even in the absence of laws regulating AI in newsrooms. Proponents of Aristotle’s golden mean stress balance between excess and deficiency; the virtuous journalist verifies information generated by AI and reviews it carefully before publication.
3. Pragmatism in Facing AI in Journalism
Strengthening journalism’s ethical codes from a practical perspective is necessary, especially given the challenges of AI. A pragmatic approach seeks solutions that make journalism more functional, sustainable and ethical. Despite its benefits, AI has sometimes been used unethically; reports note journalists using fake quotes generated by AI without conducting interviews, damaging their outlets’ reputations. These violations can be curbed by applying clear ethical rules and ensuring human review of AI-produced material.
4. Technology as an Ethical Shield
Deploying tools capable of tracking and detecting AI-generated content in newsrooms is an effective way to maintain integrity. From a utilitarian viewpoint, adopting such tools is ethical when it builds public trust and reduces harm from false news. For instance, the new Turnitin tool can detect AI-generated content with up to 98% accuracy, making it a model for uncovering plagiarism and ensuring authenticity.
Real Examples: Are Values Enough?
In May 2023, The Irish Times published a piece accusing users of fake tanning products of mocking naturally dark skin. The article was initially attributed to Adriana Acosta-Cortez, who turned out not to exist; days later, the paper admitted that the article and accompanying image were created at least partly by generative AI. The website Hold the FrontPage revealed that AI was used to launch a fake newspaper, The Bournemouth Observer, prompting its editor to remark that soon it will be hard to tell AI-written stories from human ones. Even Index on Censorship was fooled by a fictional writer named Margo Blanchard; major magazines like Wired and Business Insider were victims of the same content. These incidents show that journalistic ethics are tested in real life, not just on paper, and that journalists must combine individual conscience, digital virtue and pragmatism to confront AI challenges. AI is no longer merely a tool; it now guides our daily lives and deeply shapes what we see and think.
The Future Impact of AI on Journalism
American writer and researcher Tobias Rose‑Stockwell believes true journalism will not disappear but will be deeply disrupted by real-time content production, increasing viral falsehoods and informational chaos. In Outrage Machine, he explains how social media’s rise was driven by algorithms organising information to serve commercial interests. He says these algorithms are better than any human at curating content and could create a personalised newspaper or TV channel for each person. Technology ethics specialist Tomasz Holanek notes that AI is rapidly changing journalism and that detecting fake materials will become harder. Institutions like the Associated Press allow journalists to experiment with AI tools but prohibit publishing AI-generated text directly. Holanek criticises sensationalistic coverage of AI, arguing it distorts public understanding and harms political debate.
Between Accountability and Human Inquiry
Canadian legal and anthropological researcher Petra Molnar argues that AI is no longer just a tool; it influences our lives and shapes our perceptions. She calls for public awareness campaigns to make AI’s role in news and politics visible and traceable, noting that companies like Meta, X, Amazon and OpenAI have become global gatekeepers of information, amplifying some voices and silencing others. In her book The Walls Have Eyes (2024), Molnar describes how digital technologies are used to monitor refugees, activists and dissidents. She warns that AI threatens to accelerate journalism’s collapse by prioritising speed and engagement over accuracy and depth. Other experts from Britain’s National Union of Journalists insist AI should only assist under human supervision: it can automate routine tasks and analyse large datasets but cannot verify facts accurately and sometimes hallucinates. Molnar concludes that journalism’s future depends on human journalists capable of rigorous investigation—on ethical human judgement supported by technology, not replaced by it. Journalism is not merely transmitting information but an ethical and existential duty that protects society from tyranny and lies.
The Journalist and the Machine: Battle for Truth
Many now wonder whether AI poses a real threat to the future of journalism. Machines may change how content is produced, speed up dissemination and reduce the need for humans in some tasks, but the essence of journalism—seeking truth and confronting falsehood—cannot be replaced by technology. The honest journalist remains the first line of defence for truth, and sometimes the price of that commitment is life itself. Since the “Flood of Al-Aqsa,” 254 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces, all refusing to stop reporting despite the danger. Among them was Al‑Jazeera correspondent Anas Al‑Sharif, who left a testament affirming he never hesitated to tell the truth. This reminds us that journalism is not merely transmitting information but an ethical and existential duty that protects society from tyranny and lies. Even as AI evolves, only ethical values, individual conscience, professional virtue and human oversight can ensure that journalism remains the voice of truth and its sharp sword. The future of journalism is not merely competition with the machine but adherence to the principles that make journalism an ethical authority that liberates society and continues to confront power by seeking truth, whatever the cost.