►Journalism is “a discipline of verification,” authors Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel wrote in The Elements of Journalism. The discipline is built on being transparent with readers, being humble instead of arrogant about what you think you know, and being original by doing your own work. They quote longtime newspaper editor Gregory Favre: “Do not print one iota beyond what you know.”
Source: https://www.tomrosenstiel.com/essential/journalism-as-a-discipline-of-verification/
►The SPJ Toolbox includes links to dozens of sites focused on the general topic of accuracy, and sites related to accuracy on specific newsworthy events.
Source: https://www.journaliststoolbox.org/2023/05/25/urban_legendsfact-checking/
►The Verification Handbook shows how to verify information whether during breaking news situations or when dealing with information designed to mislead audiences. A group of journalists has published multiple versions of the handbook, which is free and in multiple languages.
Source: https://datajournalism.com/read/handbook/verification-3
►National Public Radio’s ethics guide includes a section on accuracy. NPR notes that errors are unavoidable, but constant vigilance is the best defense. NPR’s guidelines include identifying knowledgeable sources, guarding against subjective errors, editing “like a prosecutor,” and being extra mindful about errors that could hurt people.
Source: https://www.npr.org/about-npr/688139552/accuracy
►The American Press Institute’s 2019 “Getting it right” white paper describes how journalists can respond to misinformation, avoid manipulation, cover false information without amplifying it, respond to attacks and deal with polarized audiences.
►As artificial intelligence (AI) use becomes more common by some news organizations, institutionalized policies that promote transparency and adequate human checks and balances will be critical, the Poynter Institute wrote.
- Among other AI resources, SPJ has created a list of AI-related tools that can help journalists make better use of the technology.
- Researchers, including Tom Van de Weghe, have noted that news organizations are inconsistent in letting audiences know when content was created by AI.
- Calls for AI transparency and media use guidelines come as news producers, from Sports Illustrated to Gannett, face criticism for publishing computer-generated content that included instances of plagiarism, fabrication and outright falsehoods for product reviews and coverage of science, business and sports.
- Media ethicist Subramaniam Vincent of Santa Clara University has highlighted key ethical issues for journalists using AI, while Wired magazine offers a model with its public-facing disclosures of its AI policies and uses.
- Beyond the need for transparency and AI use guidelines, technologists caution that AI is rife with human biases despite being computer-generated.
Sources:
- https://www.poynter.org/commentary/2023/jouranlism-artificial-intelligence-ethical-uses
- https://www.journaliststoolbox.org/2023/05/25/ai-tools-for-journalists/
- https://medium.com/@tomvandeweghe/responsibility-and-transparency-are-key-new-guideline-on-the-use-of-artificial-intelligence-in-f0cedcf26c0
- https://futurism.com/sports-illustrated-ai-generated-writers
- https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/30/tech/gannett-ai-experiment-paused/index.html
- https://www.scu.edu/ethics-spotlight/generative-ai-ethics/how-must-journalists-and-journalism-view-generative-ai-/
- https://www.wired.com/about/generative-ai-policy/
- https://www.ibm.com/blog/shedding-light-on-ai-bias-with-real-world-examples/