Advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier than ever to manipulate photos and videos. From deepfakes of politicians to subtly edited protest images, visual misinformation can easily mislead the public—and often spreads faster than corrections.

Journalists must now develop visual literacy skills that were once the domain of digital forensics experts. This includes understanding how to spot inconsistencies in lighting, shadows, and pixel patterns; knowing how to use verification tools; and recognizing the signs of AI-generated imagery.

Ethical practice requires not only detecting manipulated visuals, but also explaining them to audiences. People need to know how and why visual manipulation happens, and how they can protect themselves from being deceived. Transparency builds resilience against rumors and propaganda.

Young journalists, who often navigate visual platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube with ease, have an important role to play. Their awareness and digital fluency can help newsrooms identify manipulated content quickly—and prevent harmful misinformation from going viral.