In the ever-evolving realm of journalism, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked both excitement and trepidation. This transformative shift gained momentum when Google introduced a mysterious robot-writing tool to major news organizations.
The ensuing debate revolves around the role of generative AI in journalism, posing questions about its potential benefits and pitfalls. For journalists like our narrator, the challenge is not to resist the technological tide but to navigate it responsibly. This news story delves into the multifaceted ways in which AI, particularly ChatGPT, has been practically and responsibly employed to elevate writing and reporting in the field of journalism.
AI in journalism and ChatGPT’s distinctive role
The initial stages of journalism are marked by extensive research, setting the foundation for a compelling story. The narrator introduces a distinctive approach, leveraging ChatGPT to reorganize background research into coherent timelines or thematic buckets. By feeding information into the AI, the journalist streamlines the process, creating a more efficient workflow. But, a note of caution is struck, acknowledging ChatGPT’s propensity to “hallucinate.” This concern is underscored by AI reporter Karen Hao, who reveals instances where ChatGPT invents information, raising questions about the tool’s reliability and accuracy.
Also, the narrative touches on the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in research, emphasizing the need for human oversight to ensure the veracity of information. The narrator asserts a commitment to responsible AI usage, steering clear of relying solely on generative AI for critical analysis or fact-checking.
Assisting in draft analysis and editing
Once the draft is crafted, ChatGPT assumes the role of a critical editor, identifying biased language, unclear arguments, and other potential pitfalls in reporting. Inspired by Trusting News assistant director Lynn Walsh, the journalist incorporates AI to enhance the narrative’s quality. Despite ChatGPT’s inherent biases, the tool proves valuable in scrutinizing written content for nuances and shortcomings. UCLA writing instructor Laura Hartenberger’s insights shed light on the limitations of ChatGPT in creative writing, but its utility in concrete, specific writing tasks is underscored. The AI functions as a high-powered, personalized thesaurus, aiding in word selection and improving on existing language tools.
The journalist acknowledges the evolving nature of ChatGPT-produced writing, describing it as sometimes “soulless and dreadful.” Despite this, the tool is recognized as beneficial for smaller, more focused writing tasks, where its assistance proves valuable, especially in overcoming moments of writer’s block.
Analyzing complex documents and data journalism
In the realm of data journalism, ChatGPT showcases its prowess by summarizing and explaining intricate documents, such as corporate earnings reports and legal filings. The tool, despite its character limit, empowers journalists to efficiently review large files for further human analysis. It introduces a novel technique for remotely monitoring public meetings by combining AI with audio recordings and transcription tools. Data-driven journalists find ChatGPT beneficial in providing step-by-step instructions, even generating custom Python scripts or formulas for spreadsheet software.
As the narrative wraps up, it reflects on the dynamic evolution of generative AI, noting that its applications in journalism are continually expanding. Paid subscribers gain access to an increasing array of features and plug-ins, allowing journalists to scrape public websites, create custom maps, generate summaries of PDFs and webpages, and even delve into the live web. The evolving landscape of AI journalism prompts a recognition that this guide, like the technology it explores, will quickly become obsolete. The narrative closes with the acknowledgment that responsible and innovative integration of AI remains paramount in shaping the future of journalism.
