AI and Journalism: New Paradigm?
AI is seen as a source of innovation and personalization of journalistic content, enhancing the journalist’s skills and improving the news product. However, there is limited research on the audience’s perceptions of AI-assisted technology in news production and dissemination. Ethical concerns regarding the potential consequences of the widespread use of automated news and the need for solid training of journalists in integrating the use of emerging technologies are also highlighted. The impact of AI on journalism has been significant, with several key developments and implications, such as:
- Key Developments in AI Impacting Journalism:
The integration of artificial intelligence in newsrooms has progressed significantly, with AI being exploited in the journalism industry, leading to improved and advanced journalism. Generative AIs such as ChatGPT have demonstrated their ability to enhance productivity in content production tasks, raising questions about how journalism faculties can address this new technology. AI has been utilized in news production strategies in some media outlets, with the potential to automate tasks such as content recommendation, creation, data extraction, and analysis, leading to cost savings for news organizations and enabling journalists to focus on higher-level tasks such as investigative reporting. The rise of scientific production on Artificial Intelligence in journalism began in 2015, with a notable increase in publications related to this topic, particularly in the United States. - Influence of AI on News Gathering and Reporting:
AI has impacted news gathering and reporting by being actively used in writing, editing, production, and distribution of diverse media content, raising concerns about the creation of deep fake news, news bias, job displacement, insufficient transparency, and ethical challenges. AI has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of news production, automate writing, and personalize content recommendations, especially in an era where media consumption is increasingly personalized. The use of AI in journalism has led to the transformation of the journalistic profession, empowering the work of journalists by modifying the routines and knowledge required by information professionals, and contributing to the improvement of professional practice. - Ethical Implications of Using AI in Journalism:
The ethical implications of using AI in journalism have been a subject of concern, with issues such as the potential for misinformation and bias to be created, as well as the need for a balanced approach in the adoption of AI in newsrooms 3. AI’s emergence presents an opportunity to contribute to the improvement of professional journalism, managing privacy, and developing an ethical approach to technological development, which helps make informative decision-making conscious and free from biases. - Challenges and Opportunities of Integrating AI into Journalism:
Challenges identified in the integration of AI into journalism include the difficulty of creating algorithms that accurately reflect political and societal issues, the unique nature of many journalism issues, and ethical concerns regarding the potential consequences of the widespread use of automated news. Opportunities of integrating AI into journalism include the potential for AI to automate routine tasks, improve the efficiency of news production, and contribute to the enhancement of the journalist’s skills and the improvement of the news product.
In conclusion, the integration of AI in journalism has brought about significant developments, influencing news gathering and reporting, raising ethical implications, and presenting both challenges and opportunities for the industry. However, it is important to address the ethical concerns and challenges while leveraging the opportunities presented by AI to improve journalism practices.