Automation in Journalism INMA 2022

Paula Felps  | How Automated Journalism Is Shaping the Future of News Media

INMA | November 2022

Newsrooms are embracing automated tools. With that acceptance comes the understanding that, no matter how capable automated software becomes, it can’t directly replace the skills of journalist & editors. Automated tools are only as good as the data they are provided, and they require human oversight to check the output, update databases, and make sure the knowledge bases being tapped into are up to date.

1. Automation is good for the bottom line: Of course, the question of revenue must be raised, and robots are doing their part to not just cut costs, but to bring in money. More media companies are using automation to drive revenue, whether that is through creating new products that attract subscribers or being able to sell more targeted advertising as a result of that content.
2. Automated journalism frees up time old school journalists: Whether it’s producing articles around data-driven stories or designing the page, news media companies are automating what can be automated.

Automation allows newsrooms to gather and leverage data on topics to generate more coverage and deliver sections that are popular with readers but would be too labor intensive for a human reporter to create. They also can gather data for journalists working on investigative pieces. The nature of automation allows it to produce hundreds of versions of a single story, making it relevant to specific coverage areas.

What the news industry can expect is that automated journalism will continue to shape news media companies, the journalism they produce, and the way that affects their business model.

This report gathers cases from newsrooms in different countries whom are already using automation in their newsrooms:

• Automation to improve coverage on specific topics such as real estate, sports, …
• Automation to produce different versions of articles
• Automated overviews of annual reports
• Automated match reports

The report finishes by stating six ways to get started with automation in the newsroom:

• Discover your gap towards your audience: Understanding where there are potential coverage areas begins with understanding what audiences are looking for
• Understand your capacity — and your culture to identify where to start in your newsroom
• Transparency towards your newsroom in order to involve your journalists & editors
• Measure your goals – whether it’s page views or any other revenue stream. What does automation bring to the table?
• Find a champion in your newsroom
• Expect machine error and be transparent about it.

Conclusion: We are still in a phase of experimentation but we already know automation can be good for the bottom line and good for journalism. We have to focus on how to use automation to make journalists and editors more efficient in their work — and the opportunities it gives us to enrich journalism.