How local news outlets can benefit from artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence could help local news outlets improve social media monitoring and stay on top of content discovery. AI could also generate, optimize and schedule social media posts and be big time savers, especially for small newsrooms where staff add social to their other duties. These are among key findings in a report by the Associated Press about how local news outlets can use AI.
The report is based on survey results from nearly 200 newsrooms across all 50 US states and more than two dozen in-depth interviews with local news leaders. Print, radio, television and digital outlets are represented, as well as commercial and non-profit operations.
In addition to demonstrating a readiness to adopt AI and automation technologies, the report outlines what local news providers need to drive technological innovation.
Key findings include:
- There is a significant gap between large and small news organizations in terms of how widely AI and automation technologies are used.
- Despite some concerns about handing off human work to machines, there is nevertheless strong support among local newsrooms for automating tasks that could free journalists for deeper reporting, streamline production or enhance content monetization.
- While interest is high, AI technologies are not in wide use at the local level because many news outlets lack the resources or time required to experiment.
“With this report, AP aims to raise awareness and also begin to level the AI playing field for local newsrooms,” said Jim Kennedy, AP senior vice president of strategic planning. “The goal is to help them harness innovative technology to improve their operations.”
Among conclusions:
Newsgathering – Significant workload reductions could be seen with increased use of transcription tools. Alerts from the posting of new government documents could help journalists keep watch over more agencies.
Production -Automating page layouts could reduce workloads for print newsrooms. Having automated writing applications pick up briefs, such as for high school sports and weather, could help newsrooms reallocate journalists to focus on writing more substantive stories. Automation that helps suggest photos, video and audio items to match text stories could speed up the production process.
Distribution – Implementing audience analytics could help newsrooms create a baseline for personalizing news content and advertising, along with honing pitches to potential subscribers and donors. Content moderation systems could help newsrooms deal with a high volume of audience feedback.
Business – A robust CRM and chatbots would be helpful to handle routine subscriber and donor-service issues. Benefits are possible from helping digital advertisers place and design their own ads with help from AI-powered services. Many local outlets would be interested in tools to increase subscriptions, memberships and donors.
AP will, starting in April, offer a free online curriculum for US news outlets. International news outlets will have access to all recorded sessions.
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