Currently, I work as a news editor-in-chief, but my career has also included roles as a news reporter, social media manager, and podcast editor. The most apparent transformation that AI is likely to bring to my profession is the evolution of the news reporter and social media manager roles into that of an "AI News/Social Media Operator," with an approximate ratio of five former employees being replaced by one new specialist.
Major media outlets are already actively using AI for information gathering and analysis. In my own experience, I utilize ChatGPT to condense lengthy, overly complex competitor articles into concise, reader-friendly news pieces. Similarly, the news reporters under my supervision use DeepSeek for the same purpose. However, AI-generated texts still require extensive editing and fact-checking. Once at least the former becomes less essential, the speed of news production will increase dramatically, even for smaller media organizations. These outlets will undoubtedly capitalize on this advancement to reduce expenditures on their news departments.
AI is also making a significant impact on content creation, particularly in areas that previously required specialized expertise in graphic design or even scientific knowledge, such as producing charts, maps, and diagrams. While these advancements open up new opportunities for less experienced professionals, they also present a clear drawback: media employees may find themselves burdened with additional tasks. Where employers once reluctantly hired specialists, they may now expect their staff to master AI tools independently and take on what they consider "extra" work for the same salary. In the long term, AI will provide even more opportunities for high-quality information presentation. However, whether this labor will be adequately compensated remains an open question—one that will ultimately be answered by employers' fairness and employees' ability to "vote with their feet" by seeking workplaces that treat them with greater respect.
Additionally, as both a journalist and a media consumer, I have observed a growing number of AI-generated fake news items, whether intentionally created or produced by accident. Experts suggest, however, that AI can also be harnessed to detect and separate disinformation from factual reporting. I expect that as AI's capacity to process information improves, it will not only reduce the occurrence of "hallucinations" but also become more effective at identifying misleading content—ranging from simple falsehoods to sophisticated, professionally crafted disinformation. This dynamic serves as a fitting illustration of the proverb about "a double-edged sword."
Another compelling issue is the role of AI in shaping algorithms that filter information and curate media landscapes for consumers. Some researchers argue that AI-driven advancements may intensify the formation of "filter bubbles"—information echo chambers that cater to user preferences while confining them within a predetermined framework. This mechanism reinforces existing biases by selectively presenting content aligned with the user's prior interactions. As a result, individuals may become increasingly radicalized in their beliefs, a phenomenon that has always existed but may now be exacerbated by a diminished likelihood of encountering alternative perspectives through serendipitous exposure to diverse media sources.
This final issue is not directly related to journalism as a craft but is deeply intertwined with journalistic ethics—an area where I have far more questions than answers regarding the future. How should news aggregator algorithms be designed? To what extent should AI operators be held accountable for the immense and, at times, alarming efficiency of these technologies? In the coming years, will journalists primarily serve as AI operators correcting its critical errors, or will they remain autonomous decision-makers, using AI merely as a tool for refining their choices? We’ll see.
Literature:
2. Beyond Misinformation: The Impact of AI in Journalism & News (Schmelzer, Ron, 2024).
3. How Generative AI Will Change the Jobs of Journalists (Marr, Bernard,2024).
4. How is AI being used in journalism? (Hu, Charlotte; Downie, Amanda, 2024).