Dehumanization in Investigative Journalism: Ethical Challenges of AI, Automation, and Digitalization in the Newsroom
TL;DR
The findings indicate that AI-driven automation improves operational performance but simultaneously undermines human judgment, narrative depth, and moral accountability, highlighting the urgent need for adaptive ethical frameworks and AI literacy programs that reinforce transparency, emotional intelligence, and human oversight in newsroom environments.
Abstract
The accelerating integration of artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and digitalization has transformed the practice of investigative journalism, reshaping both its workflow and ethical foundations. While these technologies enhance efficiency, precision, and access to information, they also present profound ethical challenges that risk eroding the humanistic core of journalism. This study examines the phenomenon of dehumanization in investigative journalism by analyzing how technological dependence diminishes empathy, moral discretion, and interpersonal trust between journalists and sources. Adopting a qualitative library-based approach, the study synthesizes academic literature published between 2019 and 2025 to explore the dual impact of technology, enhancing productivity but weakening ethical agency. The findings indicate that AI-driven automation improves operational performance but simultaneously undermines human judgment, narrative depth, and moral accountability. Consequently, the research highlights the urgent need for adaptive ethical frameworks and AI literacy programs that reinforce transparency, emotional intelligence, and human oversight in newsroom environments. By addressing the tension between technological innovation and ethical responsibility, this study contributes to ongoing scholarly debates on sustaining human-centered values in digital-era journalism.