CRITICAL PHOTOJOURNALISM

 Robert Hernandez has made a name for himself as a journalist of the web, not just on the web. His primary focus is exploring and developing the intersection of technology and journalism — to empower people, inform reporting and storytelling, engage the community, improve distribution, and, whenever possible, enhance revenue. He is a professor of professional practice at USC Annenberg, but he’s not an academic… he’s more of a “hackademic” that specializes in “MacGyvering” digital journalism through emerging technologies.

His most recent work includes augmented reality, wearables/Google Glass, and virtual reality — he and his students produce VR experiences under their brand: JOVRNALISM. Their work has won awards from the Webby Awards, the Shorty Awards, the Online News Association, Society of Professional Journalists, among others, and can be seen in Al Jazeera, The New York Times, NBC, NPR, ProPublica, USA Today, and in their own iOS/Android app.

He has worked for seattletimes.com, SFGate.com, eXaminer.com, and La Prensa Gráfica, among others. Hernandez is also the co-founder of #wjchat and co-creator of the Diversify Journalism Project. He has served on boards that have included Chicas Poderosas, InquireFirst, the Online News Association, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (where he is a lifetime member). He is also a Journalism 360 ambassador and program lead. He is the recipient of SPJ’s 2015 Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award and the 2018 NAHJ Si Se Puede Award. He has made it to Imgur’s front page more than once. He connects dots and people.

Lightly edited for clarity and length.

Let’s be serious—you can't be a creator, you can't be a journalist, you can't be anybody who's seeking knowledge and see a bright, shiny thing that everybody's talking about and not want to play with it.

First and foremost, AI has the potential to be a handy tool in our field, but it needs to be handled with care. We must prioritize human oversight when using AI to create illustrations, brainstorm ideas, or generate shot lists. AI can assist with efficiency, but it should never replace human intuition, creativity, or responsibility—especially when working with nonfiction visual storytelling.

Regarding accuracy and authenticity, AI tools can help verify the truth behind visuals and ensure that images or videos have not been manipulated. This added layer of verification strengthens the credibility of our work. But we also need to be transparent about where AI has played a role in the storytelling process—whether in generating visual elements or analyzing data—and make it clear to our audience when something has been artificially created or enhanced.

AI can also support diversity by helping to detect patterns of underrepresentation in our storytelling. These tools can identify biases in our existing content and suggest diverse story angles, ensuring we include voices and perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked. However, we must be cautious that the AI itself isn't perpetuating existing biases and ensure that human editors regularly review its outputs.

Regarding transparency, AI can improve our engagement with our audience by providing traceable processes. Whether through interactive data visualizations or by explaining how AI contributed to a particular project, we can give the public insight into how visual stories are crafted, fostering trust and accountability.

While AI can help generate efficient shot lists or enhance visual creation, it’s essential to preserve the core values of journalism—truth, fairness, and clarity. We must use AI to enhance, not replace, the very human aspects of storytelling. AI should remain a tool to assist us in delivering stories that are not only compelling but deeply authentic, diverse, and responsibly told.

In short, AI is a powerful asset when used ethically. It can help uphold truth by verifying content, promote diversity by addressing underrepresentation, and increase transparency by making our processes clearer to our audience. However, handling it with the same level of scrutiny and integrity we bring to all aspects of visual journalism is essential.