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Cited by 85Media Studies and CommunicationJournalism and Media StudiesEthics and Social Impacts of AI

AI ‘Everywhere and Nowhere’: Addressing the AI Intelligibility Problem in Public Service Journalism

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Jones, Bronwyn, Jones, Rhianne, Luger, Ewa·2022·Digital Journalism
DOI 10.1080/21670811.2022.2145328
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Abstract

Growing prevalence of algorithmic systems and artificial intelligence in news production has prompted concerns over journalists’ ability to understand and engage with them in ways that do not compromise journalistic norms and values. This ‘intelligibility’ issue is particularly acute for public service media due to the risks such complex and opaque systems pose for disrupting accountability, decision-making, and professional judgment. This article draws from document analysis and interviews with fourteen journalists to outline where AI is deployed in BBC news production and analyse how journalists make sense of AI and algorithms. We find a disconnect between increasingly pervasive AI and the level of understanding amongst BBC journalists, who are using guesswork and imagination in place of accurate conceptions of these technologies. This could limit journalists’ ability to effectively and responsibly use AI systems, to question their outputs and role in news production, or to adapt and shape them – and could also hinder responsible reporting on how AI impacts society. We recommend PSM develop strategies for fostering AI intelligibility and literacy on three levels: individual, organisational, and community, and we reframe the AI intelligibility problem in sociocultural rather than solely technical terms in order to better address normative considerations.

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Crossref · 10.1080/21670811.2022.2145328

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  • The development of digital technology and the internet brings new challenges: cybersecurity issues, data privacy, and the spread of false information.

    “On the other hand, the development of digital technology and the internet also brings new challenges. The emergence of cybersecurity issues, data privacy, and the spread of false information are critical issues that need to be addressed.”

    From CHANGES IN PUBLIC INFORMATION CONSUMPTION PATTERNS IN THE DIGITAL ERA: A LITERATURE STUDY ON DIGITAL JOURNALISM (2025) · cites this paper as Jones et al., 2022

  • The speed and ease of access to information via the internet means everyone can become a producer of information, which sometimes has a negative impact on quality and accuracy.

    “The speed and ease of access to information via the internet means that everyone can become a producer of information, which sometimes has a negative impact on the quality and accuracy of the information available.(Jones et al., 2022).”

    From CHANGES IN PUBLIC INFORMATION CONSUMPTION PATTERNS IN THE DIGITAL ERA: A LITERATURE STUDY ON DIGITAL JOURNALISM (2025) · cites this paper as Jones et al., 2022

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Authors
Jones, B., Jones, R., & Luger, E.
Affiliations
  • British Broadcasting Corporation (United Kingdom) (GB)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
Corresponding author
Jones, Bronwyn
ORCID
Venue
Digital Journalism
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2022-11-26
Volume
10
Issue
10
Pages
1731-1755
ISSN
  • 2167-0811 (ISSN-L)
  • 2167-082X
DOI
10.1080/21670811.2022.2145328
OpenAlex
W4312192157
Cited by
84
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 1
FWCI
22.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Digital Journalism (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/S035362/1)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Media Studies and Communication
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Journalism and Media Studies
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
Keywords
public service journalism, BBC, algorithmic journalism, AI literacy, journalistic norms, accountability, algorithmic opacity, news production

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