Ben Smith’s Post

In the age of AI, a different vision is needed of how to organize and capitalize the field of journalism, writes Charis Papaevangelou. https://lnkd.in/e3-WDdpA

Figuring out a business model for the future is essential, including opportunities for digital revenue. But for any of that to be successful, journalists must ensure that developments in AI and AI policy strengthen journalism, both in newsgathering and in serving that news to the public in a way that distinguishes it from other content. #AI #journalism https://lnkd.in/dY9Jvb4m

In the age of AI, a different vision is needed of how to organize and capitalize the field of journalism, writes Charis Papaevangelou. https://lnkd.in/dRJVR3DS

Check out the potential of AI in journalism. #AI #Journalism #AIinJournalism

As AI continues to reshape industries, it holds immense promise. But I wanted to also write about the potential pitfalls for small-town journalism. I wanted to briefly explore why the answer isn’t as simple as adopting AI tools but lies in knowing how to apply them without eroding what makes local news special. Here’s why: ✅ Story Generation Isn’t a Template Job – Local dialect, community quirks , even the right pronunciation of names can make or break a piece. One misstep, and readers immediately sense, “they’re not from around here.” AI misses that nuance. ✅ Canned Content Won’t Cut It – Local readers crave context, personality, and connection. In small towns, readers often know who’s involved in the stories. AI-written news risks stripping away that local flavor, turning community news into forgettable noise. ✅ Trends Don’t Always Tell the Real Story – In big cities, algorithms can surface trending topics. But in a small town, some of the most impactful stories might not “trend” online. They’re quiet issues affecting a few but significant for many, stories that only a tuned-in journalist would know to cover. ✅ Handling Sensitive Topics with Care – Reporting on local scandals or tragedies requires a sense of who’s who and what’s at stake. AI-driven reports can’t know which families need sensitive handling or which topics to approach delicately. This is where AI falls short, and where human judgment is essential. ✅ Investigative Work Requires Local Knowledge – Digging deep into community issues, especially those that require a historical or relational understanding, is still a job for human reporters. AI can connect data points, but it can’t replicate years of trust or local insights. AI should support small-town journalism, not replace it. #SmallTownJournalism #AI #LocalNews #CommunityJournalism #MediaInnovation #EthicalAI #Medium https://lnkd.in/gcTJuwUi

💡 News Update EBU Releases 2024 News Report on AI’s Impact on Journalism, Emphasizing Ethical Integration and Trust The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has released its 2024 News Report, “Trusted Journalism in the Age of Generative AI,” which explores the profound implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on journalism and the news industry. The report delves into the opportunities and challenges presented by generative AI technologies, emphasizing the need for maintaining journalistic integrity in an increasingly complex information ecosystem. #ai #eu #news https://lnkd.in/dKsMQ6DZ

The future of journalism is here, and it's powered by AI! Let's embrace this technological transformation and look forward to more accurate, engaging, and insightful news. 🚀 #AIinJournalism #Newsroom #FutureOfNews #TechInJournalism #Innovation #News #ArtificialIntelligence

From the Blogosphere: The viability of journalism in the AI era hinges on its ability to adapt its business strategies. In this piece, author Courtney Radsch, PhD (The Brookings Institution TechTank) considers how and whether policymakers ought to intervene to rectify market imbalances, safeguarding intellectual property rights and providing journalism with a competitive edge against the tide of AI... https://lnkd.in/gVBTqCRz

New from me, Sibo Chen, Charles Davis, and Mariia Sozoniuk from The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University -- preliminary survey results on how a representative sample of Canadians feel about the use of AI in journalism. Big takeaways: the news audience wants transparency of use and human oversight; lack of transparency could lead to loss of trust; big concerns about how AI could impact the spread of mis-/disinformation; and some other interesting nuggets about how Canadians are consuming news. Check it out:

"Only 23 percent of respondents in the US and 10 percent in the UK would be comfortable with AI-produced news, with consumers especially suspicious of the technology being used for sensitive topics such as politics and crime, the survey by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism showed on Monday." However, how many of these respondents would be able to distinguish between human written and AI-produced? With consumers being suspicious of it's use, how transparent should newsrooms be if they use AI? Newsrooms should be having discussions right now about these questions and more. #AI #News #Tech #AlJazeera #Reuters #EthicalAI #AIJournalism