The Legal, Institutional, and Cultural Foundations of AI Pedagogy in Global South Journalism Education

Abstract

This study examines how journalism programs in eight Global South countries integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their curricula amid infrastructural and policy challenges. Analyzing syllabi and national AI policies, it finds that AI is taught as a practical tool embedded in digital and data workflows. Ethics is framed as risk management, addressing misinformation, bias, and surveillance. However, instruction operates under significant infrastructure constraints, including limited connectivity and access to tools. Overall, AI education in these contexts is pragmatic and locally grounded, adapting global technological trends to fit material realities, professional norms, and uneven governance systems.