AY, AI?

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
IN NEWSROOM
JOUR 70: Research in Journalism
ANG TANONG NG BAYAN
Are the robots going to take our jobs? Will
algorithms write articles and edit the news?
 machine learning
natural language processing
automation
data processing
AI
 Artificial intelligence is a collection of
ideas, technologies, and techniques
that relate to a computer system’s
capacity to perform tasks normally
requiring human intelligence (Brennen et
al., 2023).
4 types of AI technology

Machine learning Computer vision

4 types of AI technology

Natural language generation and processing

In the near future all aspects of our lives
are going to be more data-driven and
algorithmically-powered with forms of
artificial intelligence shaping our
societies.
Luanda Leaks
digital archiving of previous articles by The New York
Times
BBC and Corona Bot
AI to reduce toxic comments in El Pais’ articles
DALL-E to create an image for Lost Coast Outpost
GPT-3 to summarize public agenda meetings
Local News Now and AI
Nieman Lab used Midjourney
Nieman Lab used Midjourney
Rappler’s use of AI
news value chain
How newsrooms are using AI?
(Rinehart & Kung, 2022)

1. Generating summaries
2. Creating outlines
3. Making keywords lists
4. Adding hashtags
5. Brainstorming for headlines
6. Constructing HTML
HTML sample
Some AI tools
Some AI tools
Some AI tools
Some AI tools
Some AI tools
 AI, however, is that it is not a new topic.
Intelligent machines were hotly debated at the
onset of the revolution of information technology.
Tropes of AI
1. The robot apocalypse
2. The robot girl/boyfriend
3. The God machine
 TAKE NOTE!

We must remember that AI is not an

autonomous force or concept that will
magically appear among us.
 Journalists of any genre may need to be
able to question why and how disruptive
technologies matter and how to deal with
questions without falling into
technological determinism.
AI is not so easy to use and it’s not as
“intelligent” as you might expect. It
brings with it problems of bias and
ownership of the technology.
Some issues in using AI
(Rinehart & Kung, 2022)

1. Legal and IP issues for images

2. Inherent bias in the training data
3. Environmental strains
4. Widening wealth disparity
 It is human nature to seek the extremes or
boundaries of possibility. But we can draw a few
important lessons from the mythological foundations
of AI in culture:
1. The stories that we tell about AI inform the real
technological systems that we design and build.

2. We need to embrace the fact that AI represents a

unique opportunity to explicitly design and
experiment with ethical systems.
 3. Disclose to the readers and viewers
when content has been produced by an
AI tool. AI-generated content should be
clearly labeled as such.
4. We must put a premium on the supremacy
of human critical thinking and judgment.
5. Improve and work on staff skills
6. Continue to be mission-driven
1. AI technologies are mere tools to assist us and
improve our work. They should not, in anyway,
replace and displace real journalists.

2. Technologies that do not put humans in the center

are no innovation at all.

3. AI is here and we must understand this

technology to address issues surrounding it and
before the technology determines it for us.
 SOURCES USED

Jaakkola, M. (2023). (2023). Reporting on artificial intelligence: a handbook for

journalism educators. UNESCO.
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384551

Marconi, F., Siegman, A., & Machine Journalist. (2017). The future of
augmented journalism: A guide for newsrooms in the age of smart machines.
https://www.ap.org/assets/files/2017_ai_guide.pdf

Rinehart, A. & Kung, E. (2022, March). Artificial intelligence in local news: A

survey of US newsrooms’ AI readiness.
https://www.ap.org/assets/files/ap_local_news_ai_report_march_2022.pdf

The Associated Press. (2022, September). Local AI initiative: Self-paced

curriculum. https://www.ap.org/assets/files/local-ai-courses-handout-sept-
2022.pdf
 YOUR TURN!

Create a four-minute video explainer about the use of AI

in newsrooms or its applications in journalism practice.

Make sure to use your video as an instrument not to

threaten but to empower aspiring and current journalists
to view AI as a tool and not a replacement of human
capabilities.

Create an official YouTube account for your video as you

will use this in your succeeding video projects for the class.
 YOUR TURN!

RUBRIC

Content of video - 20
Creativity (Audio-visual elements and packaging) - 20
Presentation and use of technology - 20
Impact - 20
Teamwork - 20
THANK YOU!
Any questions?