Jakarta. The Press Council has urged media organizations to maintain transparency in using artificial intelligence (AI) for journalistic work, stressing that while the technology offers benefits, it also poses risks that require careful oversight.

Abdul Manan, chairman of the Press Council’s Commission on Law and Legislation, made the remarks at the United Tractors Group 2026 Journalist Workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 14, which carried the theme “Human Journalism in the Age of AI: Strengthening Trust and Media Credibility.”

Abdul said AI adoption was inevitable, but its dual nature required media organizations to exercise caution.

“AI, like any technology, has two sides: it can be beneficial or dangerous. Like a knife, it can be used to cut grass or prepare food, but it can also be used to kill someone. AI is the same. Therefore, the Press Council needs to establish regulations to guide the use of tools that can be both dangerous and beneficial,” Abdul said.

The Press Council issued specific guidelines on AI use in journalism in 2022. Rather than prohibiting or permitting AI outright, the guidelines establish safeguards for its use, with adherence to the journalistic code of ethics remaining a core principle.

Abdul explained that media organizations must disclose AI use when it significantly affects the production of journalistic work. Disclosure is not required for minor applications, such as transcription or language correction.

“One provision requires media organizations to clearly disclose their use of AI when it has a significant impact on the production of journalistic work. This is part of the principle of transparency in AI use,” he said.

United Tractors Announces Journalist Competition Winners
The workshop concluded with the announcement of the winners of the United Tractors Journalist Competition, which carried the theme “Driving Industry, Strengthening the Nation.” The competition recognized outstanding work across various media platforms.

Rara Ramadhany of Beritasatu, who won first place in the AI Poster Competition category, said the competition provided a positive platform for young people to explore their creativity.

“AI is not just a tool for editing and experimenting with prompts. It also opens up opportunities for us to explore other creative ideas,” Rara said.

Ahmad Nabhani of Harian Ekonomi Neraca also secured third place in the Writing Competition category. He expressed hope that the competition would continue to grow in the coming years.

“I hope next year’s competition can be further improved and include more nominees, covering not only online journalists but also print media and social media,” Ahmad said.

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