You don’t have to look very far to spot an AI-written article – and as you develop an eye for what’s AI-generated and what’s not, it becomes even more obvious. But with everything from a casual blog post to a breaking news story now being written by AI, it’s not surprising that the future of journalism is in question, and people are asking, “Are journalists still relevant?” Here’s what to consider:
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In some ways, it could be said that journalists are losing relevance. People are overwhelmed by content, news audiences are shrinking, and trust is down. AI is churning out quick, cheap content faster than humans can, which gives a sense of real trouble for the journalism industry.
But the thing is, this problem didn’t actually begin with the introduction of AI technologies – the warning signs have been around for years. People have slowly stopped trusting the news. Clickbait, doom scrolling and feeling like a ‘target’ for news and advertisements has fatigued the public.
Journalism used to be a way of connecting communities, sharing important information and news and standing in as the voice of the public. But now, news outlets chase clicks, harvest email addresses and charge online subscription fees, pumping out more and more fast, cheap content.
The good news
Despite all this, whether you’re an old hand in the newsroom or just starting out with a journalism degree, such as those provided by https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk, there’s still a real future in journalism. It might look a little different, however, and perhaps it’s time to change the tone. Newspapers and online media outlets must stop competing with machines, and instead focus on connection, trust and humanity.
Instead of writing fast, cheap clickbait content, restoring journalism to a more human-centred and community-based model could save its future. After all, AI may be powerful and have some really important and helpful features, but it can’t stand in for real experience, provide empathy or connect with an audience in the same way as a human. Perhaps it’s time that journalism rediscovers its purpose, along with its heart.