Artificial intelligence and the transformation of journalism: A systematic review of opportunities, challenges, and ethical implications

Dariush, Babak; Piriyaei, Faezeh

doi:10.22059/jcss.2025.406680.1205

Artificial intelligence and the transformation of journalism: A systematic review of opportunities, challenges, and ethical implications

Articles in Press

Document Type : Review article

Authors

Babak Dariush ¹
Faezeh Piriyaei ²

¹ Shaykh Baha al-din Architectural and Environmental Studies Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.

² Department of Cinema, Faculty of Cinema & Theater, Tehran University of Art, Iran.

10.22059/jcss.2025.406680.1205

Abstract

ackground: Over the past decade, advances in machine learning, natural language processing, and generative artificial intelligence have enabled news organizations to automate routine reporting tasks, enhance investigative capabilities, and deliver content tailored to increasingly segmented audiences.
Aims: This paper presents a systematic review of scholarly literature on the integration of AI into journalism, covering studies published between 2010 and 2025.
Methodology: Drawing on research from diverse geographical contexts and methodological approaches, it synthesizes findings on AI’s technological capabilities, its economic and ethical implications, and its broader societal impact on the news ecosystem.
Findings: The review identifies AI’s transformative role in automating routine reporting, enhancing investigative journalism, enabling personalized content delivery, and streamlining newsroom operations. However, it also reveals significant concerns regarding transparency, accountability, bias, audience trust, and the erosion of human editorial oversight. The findings highlight regional disparities in adoption, shaped by technological infrastructure, market readiness, and policy environments, underscoring the need for context-sensitive approaches to AI governance. By mapping prevailing trends and identifying underexplored dimensions—such as cross-cultural differences in adoption, long-term effects on democratic deliberation, and evolving newsroom ethics—this study provides an evidence-based foundation for policymakers, media professionals, and researchers.
Conclusion: While AI holds the potential to enhance journalism’s efficiency, reach, and innovation, its responsible implementation requires robust ethical standards, governance frameworks, and sustained human involvement to safeguard the profession’s democratic role.

Keywords

Main Subjects

media

Main Object: Media

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