WSJ Editor in Chief Stresses Importance of ‘Trust’ in News Media Amid AI Age

By Tomoko Echizenya / Dow Jones Yomiuri Shimbun Pro Managing Editor

21:00 JST, March 26, 2026

Emma Tucker, editor in chief of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, has stressed in an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun that now is the time — when the internet is flooded with low-quality information generated by artificial intelligence — for the dawn of a “golden age” in which the role of journalists who report trustworthy news will become even more important.

“I think AI is going to lead to a real kind of golden age for reporters because what they do is going to become much more important,” Tucker said during the interview at The Yomiuri Shimbun’s headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Given that online information includes “AI slop,” or low-quality content generated by AI technology, Tucker said, “There’s an opportunity for trusted public publications.” WSJ stories are written by human beings, and AI is a tool to “make our journalism better,” she added.

Specifically, she cited examples such as the use of AI to rapidly analyze massive reports on a corporate scandal — a task that would take a human months to complete.

“LLMs [large language models] are looking at things that have information that is already out there, but we’re telling people things that they didn’t know, things that are new,” Tucker said.

In the AI age, she acknowledged that the WSJ could be an irreplaceable source by enabling journalists to focus more on exclusives, scoops and investigative reporting from angles that AI cannot manage.

Regarding the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Tucker described it as an “unusual administration.” But she also said: “Trump is very open. He takes phone calls from journalists.”

“We’re getting criticized, and the U.S. politics is very polarized, but I say to the newsroom, ‘Just hold on tight and carry on doing what you’ve always done,’” she added.

Amid growing geopolitical risks, Tucker said: “It’s important to give context in a complex situation … The more reporting you do, the more you’re able to build a more complete picture.”

As for the changes in the world order, she said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s reliance on the United States will end. “Europe understands that in the future, it has to be able to defend itself,” Tucker said. “I think the nature [of NATO] or the contributions that countries make to it will change.”

Asked about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at last week’s summit with Trump, Tucker praised Takaichi highly, saying, “It was a difficult timing for her, but I think she handled it very well.”

“He [Trump] clearly likes her. And he respects her, I think,” she added.

The United States is “still important for the security of Japan and this part of the world,” Tucker said. “So good politicians have to be pragmatic about it. And I think she came over as firm but pragmatic.”