Artificial intelligence and journalism: A systematic bibliometric and thematic analysis of global research

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping journalistic practices across the globe, offering new opportunities while raising ethical, professional, and societal concerns. This study presents a comprehensive, second-generation systematic review of published articles on AI in journalism from 2010 to 2025. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, we analyzed 72 peer-reviewed articles selected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The study integrates bibliometric mapping, thematic synthesis, and sentiment analysis using the Valence Aware Dictionary and Sentiment Reasoner (VADER)—an approach that distinguishes it from earlier reviews focused narrowly on automation or ethics. The findings show a sharp increase in research activity after 2020, with prominent focus areas including automation, misinformation, and ethical governance. While most studies reflect cautious optimism, concerns over bias, transparency, and accountability remain persistent. The review also highlights regional disparities in scholarly contributions, with limited representation from the Global South, as well as fragmentation across disciplinary boundaries. By combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, this review provides a multi-dimensional understanding of how AI is transforming journalism. It contributes not only a descriptive mapping of trends but also an interpretive framework for understanding shifts in authority, autonomy, and democratic functions. Finally, the study outlines practical implications for journalism education, newsroom policy, and regulation, offering future research directions for more inclusive and interdisciplinary innovation. • Reviews 15 years of AI–journalism research using PRISMA and mixed methods. • Reports 172 % publication surge in 2024 linked to generative AI adoption. • Proposes a four-phase model of AI use in journalism, from bots to LLMs. • Finds ethics, misinformation, and trust as central unresolved challenges. • Reveals major research gaps in the Global South and journalism education.