Each newsroom must adopt an ethics policy to guide the use of generative artificial intelligence. For what? Because the only way to create ethical standards in an unlicensed profession is to do it workshop by workshop.
Until we create these standards—even if we’re just getting started—we’re holding back innovation.
So here is a starter kit, created by Poynter Alex Mahadevan, Tony Elkins and me. It is a statement of journalistic values that grounds AI experimentation in the principles of accuracy, transparency and public trust, followed by a set of specific guidelines.
Think of it like a meal prep kit. Most of the work is done, but you still need to roll up your sleeves and do some work. This policy includes blank spaces, where editorial managers will need to add details, saying “yes” or “no” to very specific activities, such as the use of AI-generated illustrations.
To effectively use this AI ethics policy, newsrooms will need to create an AI committee and designate an editor or senior reporter to lead ongoing efforts. This step is crucial because technology will evolve, tools will multiply and policy will only be able to keep pace if it is regularly revised.
This leader, with the support of this committee, may also be responsible for editorial-wide communication and inspiration around AI experiments. Here are some highlights of this ethics policy template:
- Form an AI committee and appoint a leader.
- Make sure the committee includes people from all departments, including the business side.
- The committee is expected to divide decisions into three categories: public uses, commercial uses, and support for back-end reporting.
- Public Intended Use: While we do not discourage public use, it poses the highest reputational risk. AI tools used to create text should ideally be trained on the content and knowledge base of your writing. For example, if you want to use AI to create a newsletter, use a custom GPT limited to your own editorial and social media content. Transparency and human control are essential requirements.
- Commercial uses: different standards may evolve for non-editorial uses. But when it comes to content creation, the values of accuracy and transparency will influence public trust, whether it’s news or not.
- Back-end reporting support: Encourage experimentation that alleviates tedious work and improves the quality of journalism.
- Partnering with tech companies and nonprofits is a great opportunity to secure funding, explore tools, and expand your capabilities. Such partnerships will require editorial transparency so that relationships are disclosed when partners are the subject of media coverage.
The best ethical standards of journalism have always encouraged moving forward, disseminating information and finding the best way to serve the public. It’s time for every newsroom to apply this approach to artificial intelligence.
