Is AI Journalism’s New Best Friend—or Its Worst Enemy?

AI is rewriting the rules of journalism—but will it empower reporters or replace them? Since ChatGPT’s 2022 debut, newsrooms have grappled with AI’s potential to automate content, personalize stories, and even mimic human writing. While some warn of robotic articles and job losses, pioneers like the San Francisco Chronicle and Associated Press are already harnessing AI for everything from sports recaps to restaurant guides. Can journalists tame this tech—or will it disrupt the industry? Let’s dive in.

🤖 The AI Dilemma: Threat or Tool for Journalism?

• Gartner’s Hype Cycle in action: Early excitement over ChatGPT (2022) led to experiments like Gannett’s AI sports stories—and swift backlash over their “dryness” (Columbus Dispatch paused its program in 2023).
• Automation’s mixed track record: The Washington Post’s robo-journalism for high school football (2017) showed promise, but AZCentral’s AI trials proved uneven.
• The creativity gap: As NBC 12’s Jake Garcia notes, AI struggles with original reporting: “Ask it to write a 2,000-word athlete profile from scratch, and it’ll fail spectacularly.”

✅ How Newsrooms Are Winning With AI

• Chowbot’s culinary success ✅ The San Francisco Chronicle’s AI tool outshines Yelp by recommending iconic clam chowder spots with historical flair.
• AP’s game-changing efficiency ✅ Bill Eichenberger (AP Sports Editors) says AI now writes basic game recaps so well that “I couldn’t tell if a human wrote it.”
• NBC 12’s workflow boost ✅ AI generates headlines and summaries in their CMS, freeing reporters for deeper storytelling—with strict guardrails against full automation.

🚧 The Roadblocks: Why AI Isn’t Taking Over… Yet

• ⚠️ The “soulless article” problem: Early AI content lacks human nuance—like Gannett’s unnamed athletes in sports blurbs.
• ⚠️ Over-reliance risks: “Aspiring journalists using ChatGPT to write stories won’t learn core skills,” warns Garcia.
• ⚠️ Monetization déjà vu: Eichenberger fears newsrooms will repeat 1990s internet mistakes: “They were slow to adapt then. We can’t afford that with AI.”

🚀 Final Verdict: Collaboration, Not Replacement

The future isn’t human vs. machine—it’s human + machine. Success hinges on:

• ✅ Playing to AI’s strengths: Data crunching (300-page lawsuits), repetitive tasks (game stats), and hyper-local tools (Chowbot).
• ✅ Guardrails, guardrails, guardrails: As ASU’s Retha Hill warns, AI is “like a fork—it can feed you or kill you.” Strict ethics policies are non-negotiable.
• ✅ Embracing the inevitable: “It’s the future,” insists Eichenberger. “Newsrooms that reject AI will become the next Blockbuster.”

So—will AI save journalism or sabotage it? The answer lies in how we wield it. What’s your take?

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Source: Luc Carter. ‘It’s the future’: With AI here to stay, journalism embraces next stage in news coverage, May 5, 2025. https://gilaherald.com/its-the-future-with-ai-here-to-stay-journalism-embraces-next-stage-in-news-coverage/