Navigating the Future of AI in the Journalism Classroom

A project reflection by Universitas Multimedia Nusantara lecturer and Pulitzer Center grantee Aditya Heru Wardhana, supported by the Pulitzer Center through the South to South AI Accountability CoLab microgrant.

I started my In-Depth and Investigative Reporting class with a simple request: "Move your chairs into a circle." I wanted to have an honest conversation about a growing anxiety in academia—the "AI loop." We see it everywhere: lecturers using AI to generate course materials and assignments, while students use AI to complete them. If everyone is just pushing buttons, who is actually learning? 

AI "addiction" and the detection dilemma

As we sat in that circle, the students—all digital journalism majors at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) in Indonesia—began to share their experiences. The honesty was striking. Most admitted they were "addicted" to using AI for their coursework, but they also confessed to a worrying side effect: a decline in their own critical thinking and creativity.

One sophomore shared a particularly heartbreaking story: She had written an entire article from scratch, without any AI assistance. Just for fun, she ran it through an AI detector. The result? 90% AI-generated. "Why does this happen?" she asked. "Is a human being no longer considered capable of writing well?" It’s a haunting question for the next generation of journalists.

Beyond the hype: A framework for accountability

In this course, led by myself, Aditya Wardhana, and with a team consisting of Ingki Rinaldi, lecturer, and Department Head Samiaji Bintang, we decided to tackle these fears head-on by teaching students how to hold AI accountable. Supported by the AI Accountability Network at the Pulitzer Center, we integrated a specific reporting framework into our syllabus.

Our students didn't just study theory; they analyzed real-world investigations like India's Welfare Machines and The Philippines and the AI Boom using Entman’s Framing Analysis. We also brought in experts to show them what this looks like in the field: Sherlina Purnamasari, a UMN alumna, shared her experience producing a documentary for Watchdoc on how AI impacts the lives of motorcycle taxi drivers (ojek online). Karol Ilagan, an editor at the Pulitzer Center, reminded students that AI isn't just a "tech beat." It’s a story about human rights, culture, labor, and social dynamics.

From proposal to publication

Theory is one thing, but reporting is another. After a competitive brainstorming session, eight groups pitched their ideas, and four were selected for funding. Their topics ranged from AI's impact on creative industries and education to its effect on social relationships.

The four-week reporting phase was a wake-up call. Students struggled to find relevant Indonesian experts and data. They also faced the harsh reality of the newsroom: the revision process. Unlike a typical class where you submit a paper and get a grade, these students had to endure multiple rounds of editing and mentoring. It was a slow, sometimes frustrating process, but it gave them a true taste of professional journalism.

The final verdict: David vs. Goliath

The culmination of this journey was a public showcase and discussion featuring Pulitzer Center grantee Antonia Timmerman and Ambang Priyonggo from the Indonesian Press Council and UMN’s lecturer postgraduate program.

Antonia emphasized that AI is a human story at its core—one involving labor and social justice. Ambang, meanwhile, painted a stark picture of the media industry's struggle against tech giants, describing it as a "Lilliput vs. Giant" battle.

While the students' articles are now being published in English on The Junction Journalism to reach a global audience, the real lesson happened in that circle on the first day. We aren't just teaching them to use tools; we are teaching them to be the human voice that questions the machine.