The prevailing narrative around AI in journalism frames automation as suitable mainly for “grunt work” – repetitive, low-stakes newsroom tasks. Yet, two award-shortlisted IBC2025 technical papers challenge this assumption in practice. Izzy Benham investigates.
The “AI for grunt work” assumption extends beyond just workplace conversation; It is also reflected in resource allocation strategy and audience responses to AI in the news. This year, 93% of publishers were found to use AI for workflow automation, with only 4-5% focused on fact-checking or verification. Equally, a Reuters report noted that only 36% of readers are comfortable with AI-produced news, with trust dropping further on sensitive topics like politics, crime and local reporting.
Together, these trends demonstrate the prevalence of the assumption amongst professionals and audiences alike. This framing can hardly be construed as innocuous when it dictates what tasks are targeted, how pilots are resourced, and where organisations are placing their bets. Additionally, when looking closely at different applications of AI in the newsroom, the accuracy of this assumption is not entirely clear...
You are not signed in
Only registered users can read the rest of this article.
Content Everywhere: Accelerators for change
Content Everywhere companies are already in planning mode for this year’s IBC. Some will also have been working on, or at least taking note of, projects included in the event’s Accelerator programme.
Why media networks are being rewired for the speed of light
The elimination of OB trucks is just the start of the light revolution. For the media industry, a rewiring of the transport network from electrons to photons promises to unlock AI driven production, immersive formats, and globalised workflows while dramatically cutting energy consumption.
Q-Stream Alpha: Prioritising trust when the network can’t be trusted
As the industry navigates a storm of content authenticity threats, the Q-Stream Alpha: The "Tactical Truth" Pipeline Accelerator seeks to deploy AI, ML, and post-quantum encryption to apply C2PA principles within live workflows.
KICK: Writing the rules of high-altitude immersive production
From camera placement and viewer comfort to movement, pacing and post-production, the French Alps-set KICK provided Altitude101 with a unique opportunity to test, challenge and refine the methods shaping its immersive storytelling.
.jpg)
Sheffield DocFest: “We need to be more weird”
Funding remains a puzzle, but the documentary and factual entertainment genres are thriving at Sheffield Documentary Festival.
