"AI cannot kill journalism but coexist to complement journalism"

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025), a reporter from the Vietnam News Agency in Jakarta had a talk with Mr. Irfan Junaidi, News Director of the Indonesian national news agency ANTARA, about current press issues as well as cooperation between the two national news agencies.

During the discussion, Mr. Irfan Junaidi said that in the current era of fake news and social media algorithms shaping the flow of information, to maintain accuracy and credibility with the public, the press needs to ensure core professional principles.

Indonesian media leaders have had many discussions about how to create timely content without sensationalizing or clickbait articles. The ultimate goal is still to provide clear, accurate information that is not distorted or used as a tool to spread fake news.

In fact, there are still some media agencies that are caught up in social media algorithms. They are willing to use sensational headlines to attract views, even though the content has little value. However, the majority of mainstream and reputable press agencies still maintain objective criteria, invest in professional training so that journalists work according to procedures and professional ethics.

To ensure the above, the Press Council in Indonesia - an independent organization that oversees the activities of media agencies, is responsible for monitoring content to ensure objectivity, accuracy, no distortion, no incitement to hatred or slander. When readers feel negatively affected by a news story, they can completely send a complaint to the Press Council for consideration and handling. It is the presence of professional journalists and this independent monitoring mechanism that has helped the Indonesian press continue to develop in the right direction and maintain professional values in the current digital media era.

Discussing the idea that AI will replace the role of journalists, Mr. Irfan Junaidi said that the existence of technology or AI has two sides. On the negative side, AI can make many people think that AI-generated content can completely meet the information needs without the need for journalists.

However, AI can be used to create fake news or create misleading content, distort the truth, cause controversy or manipulate public opinion. Mr. Irfan Junaidi said that information is not just data but also needs perspective, context and emotion. These factors can only be provided by humans, specifically journalists.

On the positive side, ANTARA's News Director believes that AI will be a powerful support tool to help journalists quickly find data, analyze deeply and shorten working time. Journalists can use AI as a tool to look up, synthesize and compare information to create press products that are faster, more comprehensive and in-depth.

Because of these impacts, Mr. Irfan Junaidi believes that AI cannot “kill” journalism, but coexists to complement journalism. The fact is that the data may be the same, but the perspective and stories told by journalists create different values. Humans, with their five senses and real experiences, are still the perfect factor, ensuring the authenticity and richness of news.

Mr. Irfan Junaidi, News Director of Indonesian National News Agency ANTARA. (Photo: Minh Thai/VNA)

According to Mr. Irfan Junaidi, in the current context, the two news agencies ANTARA and Vietnam News Agency need to promote and be more creative in cooperation activities to improve information efficiency as national news agencies of the two countries.

ANTARA and Vietnam News Agency have had an agreement on information exchange cooperation for many years and can continue to cooperate in this field as well as in sharing information, expanding the network, thereby enhancing the communication strength of both sides.

In addition, the two sides can also move towards joint reporting on important issues such as the environment or economy . The results of these projects can be shared with the customer system and readers in each country.

ANTARA's News Director also mentioned the possibility that in the future, ANTARA and Vietnam News Agency can design global-scale cooperation programs or joint communication campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.

He believes that the similarities and uniqueness of the two countries such as large population structure, rich resources, diverse culture... are the foundation for journalists from both sides to tell valuable stories to the world .

“Our goal is to jointly develop a modern journalism system to ensure fast, accurate information and affirm the role of national news agencies in each country,” he said./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ai-khong-the-giet-chet-bao-chi-ma-cung-ton-tai-de-bo-tro-cho-nghe-bao-post1045427.vnp