Journalism's Core Values Must Endure In The Age Of AI

By Suraidah Roslan

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- The rapid evolution of technology, from the era of typewriters to artificial intelligence (AI), has transformed the journalism landscape, enabling news production and dissemination to take place faster than ever before.

However, despite these technological advancements, both veteran and young journalists agree that journalism’s fundamental values -- ethics, integrity, accuracy and the human touch -- must continue to be upheld to ensure reporting remains credible and trustworthy.

Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) adviser Datuk Muguntan Vanar, 61, said these values are the strongest safeguard in the age of AI and social media, ensuring mainstream media continues to earn public trust.

“It is important for journalists to uphold accuracy, fairness, independence, transparency and accountability so readers continue to place their trust in us.

“Today, false and half-truth information spreads rapidly through social media. If we do not want the journalism profession to face further threats, we must defend the core values of journalism,” he told Bernama.

Reflecting on his early career during the typewriter era, Muguntan said the experience taught him to appreciate the discipline and precision required in journalism.

“Every word carried weight. We could not simply delete text at the press of a button because even a minor spelling or sentence error meant retyping an entire page.

“The typewriter also brought its own character to the newsroom through its constant rhythm and sound. For our generation, it made journalism feel truly alive,” he said.

He noted that technological advancement has significantly changed the way journalists gather information, with interviews that were once conducted face-to-face now commonly conducted by telephone or via messaging applications.

Describing AI as both an opportunity and a challenge, Muguntan said the technology can improve efficiency but may also pose risks to journalistic and editorial ethics if not used responsibly.

“I believe AI will eventually take over many aspects of journalistic work. However, the core values of journalism must always be preserved to maintain the human element in news reporting,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) economics desk reporter Muhammad Fawwaz Thaqif Nor Afandi, 25, said young journalists must remain committed to journalistic principles to ensure the media continues to serve as a reliable source of authentic information.

“AI can be used as a tool to gather information, verify facts and improve grammar, but not to write news entirely. Original writing style and the human touch are essential to preserving a journalist’s identity,” he said.

Inspired by former Director-General of Broadcasting Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman, Fawwaz said he aspires to become an ethical journalist with strong integrity and a commitment to delivering accurate reporting to the public.

Malaysia Gazette journalist Nur Arina Asbar, 25, said young journalists must be more aware of their surroundings, especially amid the growing spread of misinformation on social media.

“In the race to report viral issues quickly, journalists must verify every piece of information they receive so that published reports are accurate and authentic,” she said.

Nur Arina cited Zainal Abdul Rashid (ZRA), the first Malaysian journalist to enter Israel and Palestine to produce a special report, as her inspiration in journalism.

For Astro Awani journalist Nurul Shafiqa Azami, 25, one of the biggest challenges facing journalists today is obtaining authentic sources as AI-generated content and manipulated images become increasingly common.

“As a young journalist, I use AI technology to help identify news intros and gather background information on issues when preparing reports.

“However, journalists cannot rely entirely on AI for writing if we want to preserve the human touch in every news story,” she said.

Nurul Shafiqa added that television personality Jasmine Abu Bakar and Astro Awani editor Assim Mohammad Hassan continue to inspire her journey in the media industry.

-- BERNAMA