Journalists' Perspectives on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Quality Journalism in Greek Local Media

The transformative influence of digitalization on journalism is evident across multiple dimensions of the industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how news is produced, distributed, and consumed, from small local newsrooms to global media organizations, offering benefits such as increased speed, efficiency, and personalization. However, the most critical role AI can play lies in upholding the high standards of accuracy, credibility, and depth that define quality journalism. The ongoing digital transformation prompts a re-evaluation of journalistic norms and practices, positioning quality at the forefront of discussions. This paper focuses on Greece's media market that encountered a severe economic crisis and, more specifically, to the Greek local media landscape to investigate the complex relationship between AI and journalism in regional media organizations. More specific, the study explores how Greek local journalists believe AI can contribute to quality journalism, while upholding the core principles of ethics and integrity. It highlights their perspectives on AI, exploring both their hopes for its potential to improve journalistic practices and their concerns about its impact on journalistic values. Through semi-structured interviews with local media industry stakeholders in Greece-including editors, editors-in-chief, and journalists-this study assesses AI's influence on journalistic quality in local newsrooms. The findings underscore the necessity of employing AI to elevate content standards rather than compromise them. Our research contributes to the discourse on AI in journalism and offers valuable insights for journalists, local news organizations, and policymakers navigating the ethical implications of AI adoption in the pursuit of high-quality journalism in Greek local media.