Artificial Intelligence and Journalism Ethics
You’ve surely noticed it by now. As you scroll through social media, you come across a photo or a video that stands out and claims to have more insight into an event or person in the news. Are they true? Where did they come from?
Sometimes they’re clear fakes, and it’s obvious they were manipulated to present a point to viewers. Sometimes they look real, and it is easy to believe them. But are they really legitimate?
If you haven’t started second-guessing what you see on the internet, it’s time to start doing so.
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence
With the rise of artificial intelligence in today’s society—from ChatGPT to online searches to the photos and videos that are posted—how do you recognize what is truth and what isn’t?
Policy Implementation
In light of these questions, Boone Newspapers, the parent company of the Albert Lea Tribune, recently adopted an artificial intelligence policy for its newsrooms. The policy outlines best practices for journalists and addresses the often thorny issue of AI in journalism.
This policy is designed to maintain journalistic integrity and the values that have always been cherished, serving as a testament to the importance of fact-finding in the mission of journalism.
Best Practices
Here are some key best practices from the policy:
- No AI-Generated Stories: Tribune employees will never use AI to write a story, and the same applies to freelancers and external content contributors.
- Transcription Services: While journalists may use transcription services for interviews, they cannot ask AI to create a story from a series of quotes or notes.
- Photo Integrity: Journalists will never manipulate or alter photos to misrepresent events. For instance, if someone missed being in a photo, they cannot be cropped in.
- Minimal Photo Adjustments: Lightening photos is allowed only to restore them to how the scene initially looked.
- AI for Assistance: AI may be used for brainstorming headline ideas or checking grammar, spelling, or AP style, but human oversight is mandatory for any changes.
- Credit AI Sources: If AI is used to create graphics, charts, or graphs, the AI source will be credited.
- Human Verification: Anything generated by AI must require human verification before publication.
These practices reflect a commitment to representing truth and transparency in journalism. This mission is consistent with the principles that newspapers have upheld for generations and will always be a priority.
