Ethical and professional challenges of AI-based sports journalism in China’s digital ecosystem

This article explores the ethical and professional challenges arising from the integration of artificial intelligence into sports journalism in the Chinese digital ecosystem. It analyzes the unique interplay between the state-platform model of the digital environment, the specific demands of sports reporting, and the operational logic of AI technologies. Key issues are identified, including the erosion of journalists' professional identities, the influence of algorithmic biases on narrative formation, and the opacity of automated news production. Methodologically, the study draws on a conceptual analysis and synthesis of theories from media studies, journalism ethics, and science and technology studies (STS). The scientific novelty of the work lies in its systematic theoretical understanding of this issue in a non-Western, state-capitalist context. As a solution, it proposes a normative model based on three principles: mandatory human participation in key stages of content production, ensuring the transparency and auditability of algorithms, and rethinking the mandate of serving the public interest in the AI era.