19
I have been writing and observing the media industry for over years now and I have seen it evolve, fews things have shaken and made journalists lack sleep like Artificial Intelligence. At first it sounded like science fiction, but today it’s a reality.
From automated fact-checking to robot generated articles. AI isn’t just knocking at the door rather it’s seated at the editor’s desk. The big question remains, is this a blessing that empowers journalism or a curse that threatens its very role.
Lets unpack both sides of the coin
THE BLESSING: Speed, Scale and Smarter reporting
1. Real time reporting like never before
We live in a world where news breaks by every second. AI tools like Natural Language Generation ( NGL) can write basic news reports in seconds. Sport scores, financial summaries, weather updates etc. What took hours earlier can now be automated with accuracy which means journalists can now focus on deep-dive analysis, investigate more and come up with better stories not crunching
2. Fact-checking and Misinformation Control
Ai powered tools like Google fact explore are helping journalists deal with the tidal waves of fake news by verifying claims in real time since we are living in an era whereby misinformation travels faster than real news, it’s a much needed line of defense. It’s like having an extra set of eyes, less tiresome and much faster than a human.
3. Audience Insight and Personalization
With machine learning the newsroom can now analyze what readers read, share and care about.
This means better recommendations, smarter headlines and stories that really connect. It’s not just about clicks but relevance.
THE CURSE: BIAS, JOB THREAT AND LOSS OF HUMAN TOUCH
1. Fear of job displacement
If we decide to be honest 95% of journalists fear AI is going to render them jobless. If robots can write news, what about the newsroom ? While AI can enhance productivity, there is no denial that some editorial roles are shrinking, especially in data- heavy areas like sports and finance. AI can write an article but it can’t chase a source down the hallway and ask uncomfortable questions that humans do.
2. Bias in – Bias out
AI tools are usually trained on existing data, which most of the time reflects real world biasness. If the training data is flawed then the AI judgement is too. This is a major ethical dilemma in news, where balance/ fairness and truth are non- negotiable.
3. Loss of Human Touch
AI can draft an article but can’t understand context, empathy nor cultural nuance compared to human journalists. Investigative reporting, storytelling and interviews, these aren’t just about facts but feelings, depth and humanity. This is where humans matter deeply.
So is AI a blessing or a curse?
Honestly I think it’s both. AI is a powerful tool, but it’s just a tool. If used wisely it can make journalism more faster, efficient and accurate but if misused it can erode trust, kill jobs and loss of complete human touch.
Future of machines isn’t about AI or humans but humans working with machines.
The future belongs to those who can blend technology with integrity, automation with insight.
