Media Self-Regulation in the Use of AI: Limitation of Multimodal Generative Content and Ethical Commitments to Transparency and Verification
The expansion of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across different stages of production and distribution in journalism is opening a debate on its applications within newsrooms and in business models. This research studies how different media outlets, media groups and institutions are beginnin...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journalism and Media |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/6/1/29 |
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| author | Pilar Sánchez-García Alba Diez-Gracia Ignacio Repilado Mayorga Pedro Jerónimo |
| author_facet | Pilar Sánchez-García Alba Diez-Gracia Ignacio Repilado Mayorga Pedro Jerónimo |
| author_sort | Pilar Sánchez-García |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The expansion of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across different stages of production and distribution in journalism is opening a debate on its applications within newsrooms and in business models. This research studies how different media outlets, media groups and institutions are beginning to create internal regulations for the use of AI, both from a technical and an ethical perspective. To do so, an international sample (N = 45) of editorial stylebooks and internal self-regulatory guidelines published between 2023 and early 2025 have been compiled—all links are openly available here—and put through a process of content analysis. The results indicate that the self-regulatory guidelines emerge from an individual initiative of the media themselves, with a focus on limiting the use of generative AI, particularly in text creation. The guidelines emphasize ethical commitments such as transparency, content verification, and respect for data and copyright while underlining the importance of human oversight. Key objectives include avoiding bias, ensuring information quality, and strengthening audience trust. Despite progress, regulation remains in its early stages and requires continuous adaptation to keep pace with technological advancements. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3949e6e4a35c48bcaaf40ec7de9cf048 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-5172 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journalism and Media |
| spelling | doaj-art-3949e6e4a35c48bcaaf40ec7de9cf0482025-08-20T03:43:27ZengMDPI AGJournalism and Media2673-51722025-02-01612910.3390/journalmedia6010029Media Self-Regulation in the Use of AI: Limitation of Multimodal Generative Content and Ethical Commitments to Transparency and VerificationPilar Sánchez-García0Alba Diez-Gracia1Ignacio Repilado Mayorga2Pedro Jerónimo3Department of Modern, Contemporary, American History and Journalism, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, SpainDepartment of Modern, Contemporary, American History and Journalism, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, SpainDepartment of Modern, Contemporary, American History and Journalism, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, SpainLabCom, Department of Communication, Philosophy and Politics, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, PortugalThe expansion of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across different stages of production and distribution in journalism is opening a debate on its applications within newsrooms and in business models. This research studies how different media outlets, media groups and institutions are beginning to create internal regulations for the use of AI, both from a technical and an ethical perspective. To do so, an international sample (N = 45) of editorial stylebooks and internal self-regulatory guidelines published between 2023 and early 2025 have been compiled—all links are openly available here—and put through a process of content analysis. The results indicate that the self-regulatory guidelines emerge from an individual initiative of the media themselves, with a focus on limiting the use of generative AI, particularly in text creation. The guidelines emphasize ethical commitments such as transparency, content verification, and respect for data and copyright while underlining the importance of human oversight. Key objectives include avoiding bias, ensuring information quality, and strengthening audience trust. Despite progress, regulation remains in its early stages and requires continuous adaptation to keep pace with technological advancements.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/6/1/29AIautomated journalismartificial intelligencedigital journalismethicsgenerative AI |
| spellingShingle | Pilar Sánchez-García Alba Diez-Gracia Ignacio Repilado Mayorga Pedro Jerónimo Media Self-Regulation in the Use of AI: Limitation of Multimodal Generative Content and Ethical Commitments to Transparency and Verification Journalism and Media AI automated journalism artificial intelligence digital journalism ethics generative AI |
| title | Media Self-Regulation in the Use of AI: Limitation of Multimodal Generative Content and Ethical Commitments to Transparency and Verification |
| title_full | Media Self-Regulation in the Use of AI: Limitation of Multimodal Generative Content and Ethical Commitments to Transparency and Verification |
| title_fullStr | Media Self-Regulation in the Use of AI: Limitation of Multimodal Generative Content and Ethical Commitments to Transparency and Verification |
| title_full_unstemmed | Media Self-Regulation in the Use of AI: Limitation of Multimodal Generative Content and Ethical Commitments to Transparency and Verification |
| title_short | Media Self-Regulation in the Use of AI: Limitation of Multimodal Generative Content and Ethical Commitments to Transparency and Verification |
| title_sort | media self regulation in the use of ai limitation of multimodal generative content and ethical commitments to transparency and verification |
| topic | AI automated journalism artificial intelligence digital journalism ethics generative AI |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/6/1/29 |
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