Artificial intelligence and journalism: is the old world behind us?

The integration of artificial intelligence into journalism is prompting a critical examination of established practices, as highlighted by a recent controversy in Germany. Denis Masmejan, secretary-general of the Swiss section of Reporters Without Borders, delves into the ethical and practical questions surrounding AI's role in newsrooms.

The debate gained significant traction following revelations about the Berlin daily newspaper, Tagesspiegel. In June, the paper disclosed that its former editor-in-chief, Stephan-Andreas Casdorff, had been using an AI to generate his regular opinion columns from start to finish. Crucially, neither the public nor the newspaper's own editorial staff were informed about the AI's involvement in crafting these pieces.

This incident has ignited a broader discussion about the legitimacy and boundaries of employing AI in journalistic work. Masmejan's commentary, published in Le Temps, suggests that the traditional landscape of journalism is undergoing a profound transformation, prompting questions about transparency, authorship, and the very nature of journalistic output.

Le Temps, like many publications, distinguishes between different types of content. Chroniques, written by editorial staff or external contributors, and opinions or op-eds, are presented as reflecting the authors' viewpoints and not necessarily the media outlet's official stance. The controversy surrounding Casdorff's AI-generated columns underscores the growing need for clear guidelines and disclosure policies as AI tools become more sophisticated and accessible to journalists.