In the fast evolving landscape of journalism, technology continues to shape the way news is gathered, produced and delivered. latakoo, an end-to-end video workflow solution used by broadcasters worldwide, is at the forefront of this transformation.
Here, we present a vision of how generative AI can potentially assist faster, more accurate and powerful journalism globally. Drawing from our experience as former journalists, we recently opened an AI Conference for journalists, hosted by a major US broadcast group. We brainstormed with our team on the potential of AI to enhance news production workflows and ultimately elevate journalism’s impact.
We spent over two decades each as journalists before founding latakoo. Our passion for reporting and early adoption of technology paved the way for the innovative workflow solutions we now provide to the broadcasting industry and influence the way we think about artificial intelligence.
Unleashing the Power of AI
latakoo has an ambitious goal: to create tools that not only support but also sustain journalism, a cornerstone of a functioning democracy. AI, often seen as a disruptive force, can be a potential ally and act as a journalist’s superpower, magnifying their impact, speed and knowledge. Let’s offer a glimpse into a day in the life of a news team equipped with AI tools. This hypothetical scenario paints a vivid picture of how AI could revolutionise news production workflows, making the processes more efficient and insightful.
Morning Meeting: AI-Generated Story Ideas
At the beginning of the day, an AI assistant helps the assignment editor by creating a prioritised list of potential stories. Drawing from press releases, e-mails, transcribed phone calls, reporter story ideas and previously produced content, the AI assists in creating an initial list. Next, the AI uses data from the broadcaster’s story and analytics archives to assess audience interest and conforms the list to best suit the community the news station serves.
Real-time Assistance: Covering Breaking News
When breaking news occurs, while the reporter and photographer are still in route to the scene, the AI assistant gathers relevant information about the event. It pulls up background information on the people or locations involved with the breaking news, previous stories that may be connected and public records to provide the incoming news crew with comprehensive context. This enables them to provide more informed and impactful coverage, all while maintaining the human touch.
AI’s Guiding Hand: Crafting and Editing Stories
As reporters craft their stories, the AI’s role continues to provide efficiencies. It aids in arranging archival video clips, organising content by relevance and even highlighting potential propaganda or factual inaccuracies. The AI assistant may even be able to sketch out an initial script that takes into account what the AI already knows and has checked. The reporter would add her facts and confirm the AI’s scripted information. With this, AI proves to be a valuable editorial partner, ensuring the accuracy and quality of news content.
AI-Enhanced Newscast: Personalisation and Insights
When it’s time to produce the newscast, AI steps in to suggest an order that maximises audience engagement. AI can also personalise the newscast for individual viewers based on their location and interests. This personalisation not only empowers viewers with tailored content but also opens avenues for revenue growth.
The AI Journalist’s Superpower: A Dual Role
AI must always be seen as a support tool, not a replacement for a human journalist. While AI can generate content, it lacks the discernment and human touch required for ethical and impactful journalism. Together, AI and journalists can be a powerful combination. The AI augments human effort, making the journalists more efficient and the journalism more impactful.
A Collaborative Future
AI’s integration into journalism is not a distant future, but a present reality. A variety of tools are already helping journalists to search, to write, to edit and to verify facts. AI-assisted journalism has the potential to save time, enhance productivity and elevate the quality of news content. Early adoption of AI tools by journalists will play a pivotal role in shaping the technology’s evolution and reaping its benefits. Journalists and news organisations need to develop a plan for how AI is used in their ecosystem. In order to truly experience the powerful efficiencies of AI in broadcasting, journalists should also be using a cloud based system that automates their video workflows and allows them to collaborate with team members from anywhere in the world.
Championing Accountability: AI and Verification
As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, ensuring accuracy becomes paramount. We applaud journalists who are already focusing on fact-checking and verifying information. New initiatives using AI and humans to check the facts serve as a reminder that AI’s potential in news reporting can only be fully harnessed when paired with journalistic integrity and accountability.
The Future Unveiled
We’ve painted a vivid picture of an AI-enhanced newsroom, where technology seamlessly collaborates with human journalists. This synergy has the potential to revolutionise news production, enhance audience engagement and contribute to the growth of ethical and impactful journalism. As we stand at the precipice of a new era, latakoo’s vision encourages us to embrace the possibilities and responsibilities that AI brings to the realm of journalism.
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