Public Trust and Legitimacy in the AI Era: A Systematic Review of Public Media Organizations

Abstract

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in public media operations, questions surrounding legitimacy, trust, and ethical governance have moved to the forefront of scholarly and institutional debate. This study presents a systematic literature review of 88 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2026, examining how public media organizations address the opportunities and challenges posed by AI adoption. Using thematic synthesis and VOSviewer co-occurrence analysis, the review identifies three core themes: sustaining institutional legitimacy, safeguarding public trust, and addressing ethical and societal challenges. Findings reveal that transparency, adherence to professional norms, accountability structures, and audience engagement function as critical mechanisms for navigating AI-driven transformations. While AI offers clear benefits for efficiency, personalization, and content innovation, its adoption also introduces risks related to bias, opacity, editorial integrity, and public accountability. Theoretically, this study contributes by integrating fragmented scholarship on legitimacy, trust, and AI governance and by proposing a clearer conceptual understanding of how public media organizations can maintain legitimacy and public trust in AI-mediated environments. The review also highlights governance approaches that align technological innovation with public-service values. Implications for policy, management, and future research are discussed, emphasizing the need for adaptive regulatory frameworks, participatory engagement strategies, and continuous assessment of emerging AI technologies.