An editor has highlighted the importance of bylines amid the increased use of artificial intelligence in journalism.

Duncan Williams has praised the use of bylines, describing them as a “necessity for safeguarding the core value of our once highly respected profession”.

Duncan, pictured, currently runs historic West Country media brand Pulman’s Weekly News as an online news aggregation service.

His comments come following recent regional press experimentation with AI, while the Independent Press Standards Organisation last month warned editors to be “vigilant” in their use of robots.

Dorset News editor Kallum Gethins, who recently took on View From Weymouth as a franchisee of Duncan’s, has also pledged to use robots to help his coverage.

In an editorial, Duncan wrote: “This is no longer just an ego driven need to see one’s own name in print, it is now a necessity for safeguarding the core value of our once highly respected profession.

“A human author signing off their work could soon be akin to a hallmark embedded on a gold bar. Is it real or is it alloyed with AI? If you wrote it, believe in it, then please do say so. Sign your own byline.

“Artificial intelligence has undoubtedly transformed the field of journalism. Automated news algorithms can generate stories at an unprecedented speed, sifting through vast amounts of data to create news pieces within seconds.

“This technological advancement offers efficiency and convenience, but it also presents challenges that cannot be ignored by any responsible news publisher.

“While AI algorithms excel at processing data, they lack the essential human judgment and discernment required to verify sources, analyse context, and interpret complex events accurately.

“Good journalists, on the other hand, should bring with themselves unique critical thinking, experience, and a code of ethics, allowing us to investigate, validate, and present information in a responsible manner.

“Bylines serve as a symbolic representation of accountability, giving credit and recognition to the journalists responsible for their work. When readers see a byline, they know that a human being with expertise and integrity has vetted the information.

“The byline acts as a beacon of trust, signalling that the story has undergone rigorous checks and balances to ensure its accuracy, fairness, and impartiality.”