How Can Journalists Use AI Safely and Responsibly

AI tools promise to save journalists time. But what if fixing their mistakes takes longer than doing the work yourself? How can journalists use AI safely without putting their sources, work, or audience trust at risk? In this episode of AImpactful, Branislava Lovre talks with Yumi Wilson, a journalism professor at San Francisco State University and former Associated Press reporter. Yumi also worked at LinkedIn and hosts A Journalist's Guide to AI, a podcast about AI and journalism. Yumi uses AI in her own work, but she also has concerns about how newsrooms are adopting it. We discuss how AI can help with everyday newsroom tasks, why clear AI policies matter, and what freelancers and small newsrooms can do without expensive tools. Yumi shares advice on protecting sources, handling sensitive interviews, checking privacy settings, and understanding what happens to information uploaded to AI services. We also talk about AI-generated images and video, professional skills, and knowing when a tool simply isn't worth using. As Yumi puts it: “So if these tools aren't working for you, don't use them.” And there's another important part of this conversation: audience trust, keeping your own voice as a journalist, and understanding AI well enough to make your own decisions. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:59 What AI means for young journalists 03:16 How newsrooms are using AI 06:43 AI and the journalist's own voice 09:52 Why newsrooms need AI policies 11:20 Lessons from the Associated Press 13:29 AI for small newsrooms and freelancers 15:27 Protecting sources and sensitive interviews 18:05 Why AI literacy matters 19:07 How Yumi's AI podcast began 22:02 When AI tools create more work 26:10 Audience trust and authenticity 27:51 Yumi's advice on using AI ABOUT OUR GUEST Yumi Wilson is a journalist, educator, and host of A Journalist's Guide to AI. Website: https://yumiwilson.me/ ABOUT AIMPACTFUL AImpactful is an independent, nonprofit newsroom covering artificial intelligence and its impact on journalism, media, and society. Website: https://aimpactful.com/ Work with us: https://aimpactful.com/services/