Pope urges news media not to ‘sell out’ for click-bait

Pope Leo calls on global news agencies to never betray their duty to tell the truth by focusing on “clickbait” articles and to be careful when using artificial intelligence tools in their reporting.

“Communication must be freed from the false ideas that corrupt it and from the degrading practice of so-called clickbait,” the pope said Thursday. he said.

“I urge you, never sell your authority.”

“You can act as a barrier against those who seek to create divisions through the ancient art of lying to rule by division,” Leo told reporters attending a conference organized by Minds International, a non-profit organization that includes Reuters and other news agencies. he said.

Leo, the first pope of the United States, thanked journalists for their reporting work in Ukraine and Gaza and reiterated his call for the release of journalists imprisoned for doing their job.

“Every day there are reporters who risk their lives to inform people about what is really happening,” the pope said.

“If we know what is happening today in Gaza, Ukraine and other lands bleeding with bombs, we owe it largely to them.”

On the use of artificial intelligence tools, Leo asked reporters to fight against “junk” information and help people separate fact from fiction.

“We are not destined to live in a world where truth can no longer be distinguished from fiction,” the Pope said.

“Artificial intelligence is changing the way we receive information and communicate, but who manages it and for what purposes?” the Pope asked.

“We must be vigilant so that technology does not replace humans,” he said.