A recent study by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) reveals that while journalists across 19 European countries are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their workflows, they emphasize the urgent need for robust safeguards to maintain trust, ethics, and job security in newsrooms.

The research surveyed members from 30 journalists’ unions alongside workers in other media-related sectors, highlighting widespread use of AI tools for transcription, translation, and content organization. About 76% of respondents reported employing AI for automatic transcriptions and subtitles, which help improve accessibility and efficiency.

Rising Concerns Over Misinformation and Ethics

Despite AI’s benefits, journalists expressed significant worries over its potential to spread misinformation and deepfakes, with 93.5% identifying these as major risks. Other concerns include copyright infringement, editorial independence, and the quality of automated reporting.

Journalists’ unions also flagged threats to intellectual property rights and the misuse of AI-generated content, with over 60% very concerned about these issues. Anxiety about job losses and the impact of AI on collective bargaining and working conditions was equally prominent.

Calls for Training, Regulation, and Collective Action

The study underscores a strong demand for clear policies and educational initiatives. Nearly 65% of journalists want training on AI tools, while 87.5% seek transparent information on AI usage and legal guidance on copyright and data.

  • 75% advocate for collective bargaining frameworks addressing AI’s effects.
  • 70.8% support monitoring tools and union-led AI innovation funding.
  • More than half call for dialogue platforms involving employers and technology providers.

Respondents emphasized the lack of a unified strategy or regulation governing AI in media, describing current approaches as fragmented and reactive.

"AI is rapidly evolving, and while it offers opportunities to enhance reporting, it also poses challenges to verification, accountability, and journalistic autonomy," the report concludes. It urges stakeholders to develop ethical standards, legal protections, and training programs to ensure AI strengthens journalism rather than undermines it.