Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2019
Capstone Advisor
Aileen Gallagher
Honors Reader
Sean Branagan
Capstone Major
Magazine, Newspaper, and Online Journalism
Capstone College
Management
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
yes
Honors Categories
Professional
Subject Categories
Communication | Journalism Studies | Other Communication
Abstract
This thesis is an examination of the ethical use of artificial intelligence in journalism. Artificial intelligence is currently being used in all steps of the news production process: story discovery, story production and story distribution. Newsrooms utilize machine learning to analyze massive quantities of data and discover patterns that humans would normally never be able to pick up. Additionally, journalists also create templates so computers can write stories that are data-based, such as earning reports and game (sports) stories, and free them up to be able to work on other projects. Newsrooms can also use AI to personalize story recommendations to readers. While there is great potential for machine learning and AI in journalism, it is also an emerging technology that creates new ethical challenges for newsrooms. Interviews conducted with 12 people working in journalism, technology and law focus on issues of bias, transparency, legislation and attribution for algorithms, among others. Based off this research, an ethical framework was built for newsrooms to follow as they implement this technology.
Recommended Citation
Kim, Haley, "AI in Journalism: Creating an Ethical Framework" (2019). Honors Capstone Projects - All. 1083.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/1083
Creative Commons License
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