Towards responsible AI journalism: Mapping journalists' perceptions of AI ethics

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) introduces pressing social and ethical dilemmas, reshaping both the integration of AI into journalistic routines and the broader dynamics of news production and dissemination. This study investigates how journalists perceive and navigate the ethical dimensions of AI, with particular attention to how ethical principles are understood and operationalized in practice. Drawing on a dual sensemaking approach, we propose a conceptual framework for AI journalism ethics that traces how ethical values are constructed, interpreted, and enacted in newsroom contexts. Journalistic heuristics initially shape the normative interpretation of AI, while assessments of technical efficacy and practical utility subsequently inform how AI's role is recontextualized within journalistic work. Building on these insights, we introduce a model of responsible AI journalism that seeks to integrate core journalistic values with ethical standards in AI development and application. © The Author(s) 2025.