Robots are content (literally) not to take journalists’ jobs

Nov 21, 2022 at 11:14 am by admin


Breathe a sigh of relief: Robots are transforming the newsroom but they’re not here to replace humans.

That’s the message from Paula Felps in a new INMA report, ‘How Automated Journalism Is Shaping the Future of News Media’.

“Automation is now being seen as more of a tool and a companion to a writer’s work, not a competitor,” says the INMA blog editor.

The report focuses on how automation can accelerate and improve reporting and reshape media business models. It covers understanding automated journalism and why it matters; “making the case” for automated news; using robots for revenue; and offers six ways to get started.

With more news media companies interested in using automation, Felps argues that the question now becomes how to get started. In the report, she outlines the steps recommended by Cynthia DuBose, vice president of audience growth and content monetisation at US media giant McClatchy.

Investigating how recent years have brought forth “excellent examples” of how automation can accelerate and improve reporting, its two big takeaways are that automation is good for the bottom line, and that it frees up time for – but does not replace – journalists.

Case studies include the UK’s Reporters And Data and Robots (RADAR), NTM in Sweden, and Norway’s Bergens Tidende, Stavanger Aftenblad and FVN.

“What the news industry can expect is that automated journalism will continue to shape media companies, the journalism they produce, and how that affects their business model,” she says. The report – free to members – dives into why it matters, what it looks like, and how news media teams can get started. Download it at INMA.org/reports.

Sections: Digital business

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