AS artificial intelligence (AI) swiftly reshapes various sectors, journalism stands at a pivotal crossroads, grappling with both its transformative potential and inherent limitations.
AI promises to revolutionise newsrooms, streamlining processes, analysing vast data sets and even generating articles in real-time.
These advancements enhance efficiency and reduce costs, offering significant opportunities for the industry to adapt in an increasingly digital world.
The adoption of AI in newsrooms globally has become a significant trend, reshaping journalistic practices and workflows.
Early adopters of AI for journalism include Thompson Reuters, which started generating financial news stories for their online platform in 2006, while the Associated Press started deploying AI to edit financial reports for companies’ incomes in 2014.
Broadly, AI refers to a field of computer science methods “dedicated to replicating human intelligence”.
It is also important to understand that it is a branch of computer science, qualifying it as STEM and the deployment of AI in the newsroom is only possible when there is collaboration between data scientists, editorial and IT teams, making it possible to align values between the technology and editorial teams.
This transformation is characterised by the integration of various AI technologies, including natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), and automated content generation (ACG).
These tools are being utilised to enhance efficiency, improve content delivery and assist journalists in their daily tasks.
However, this technological evolution is not without its concerns.
Automating the beat: The role of AI in today’s journalism
For journalism and newsroom setting, NLP, ML and ACG are commonly used and it is critical for newsrooms to comprehend these technologies before application.
Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence technology that can create new content, such as text, images, audio, video, or other media, based on the data it has been trained on and according to written prompts provided by users.
Among its capabilities, it does speech recognition, learning, planning and problem solving combined with cognitive capabilities which include reasoning, comprehending facts, judgement and deduction.
Its history can be traced back to the 20th century with the advent of processing of digital computers, but prominence and usage has become a contemporary event.
In journalism, AI tools are tantamount to interactive storytelling, and leveraging AI for engaging news narratives.
For Zimbabwe, unfortunately, it seems the discussions are concentrating on threats, risks and fears, rather than capacity needs for newsrooms to have their own customised tools, fit for the Zimbabwean market.
This reveals limited understanding and perhaps lack of strategic impulse amongst publishers.
Of course, AI will not replace human journalists, at least for now, but knowing how it works, and having a working strategy on how your newsroom will apply AI is a commendable starting point.
Obviously, there are so many challenges that accompany deployment of AI in newsrooms, but extraordinary potential to strengthen journalism exists when adopted well.
This demands that at least everyone in the organisation has some basic knowledge about AI.
To be specific, AI is used for newsgathering, news production and news distribution in the newsroom.
Unique roles for AI tools include breaking news, data analysis and content personalisation.
With referral traffic from platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) falling, it becomes apparent that publishers need traffic that comes to homepages directly and content personalisation stands out to be the best bet for survival.
AI’s promise and peril: The investment needed for a balanced journalistic future
AI falls short in areas that require human intuition, empathy and the nuanced interpretation of complex issues.
Critical thinking, ethical judgment and investigative reporting are qualities that machines currently cannot replicate.
And while AI can assist in content creation and distribution, it is far from a panacea for the challenges facing modern journalism, hence a number of things need to be in place to guarantee effective use:
Internal policies: The need for newsrooms to develop internal policies and guidelines on the use of AI is no longer an option.
Internal policies and strategies are a must and these must be in place before AI adoption.
Journalists and editorial teams should be well informed about these policies and guidelines on the use and applications of AI in their work.
Constant risk assessment: Working with AI demands constant checks and balances for efficient use.
And the assessment includes potential impact and influence of AI technologies on editorial policies and practices.
Responsibility and transparency:
With the rise of audience trust in news, it is imperative that media managers remain responsible for all content generated by AI technologies.
To realise the benefits of AI, substantial investment is essential.
Media organisations must allocate resources not only for technology acquisition, but also for training staff to work effectively alongside AI tools.
Balancing technological advancements with the irreplaceable human touch is crucial.
As we delve into the implications of AI in journalism, we must consider both its possibilities and its limitations, paving the way for a more balanced, informed future in media.
- Silence Mugadzaweta is digital & online editor for Alpha Media Holdings and content strategies blogger for International News Media Association.