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The Cleveland newsroom is experimenting with artificial intelligence in its draft articles from its reporters’ notes. While editors defend this decision and say that this tool is helping journalists focus more on reporting, some have criticized it, expressing concerns about writing skills and the future of journalism.
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By Genesis Muckle
The largest newspaper in Ohio, The Plain Dealer, has opened up about the latest feature within its bylines, “Advance Local Express Desk,” or, in other words, the article was drafted by artificial intelligence.
This initiative was introduced by Chris Quinn, editor for The Plain Dealer, who created the job called the “AI rewrite specialist.” With this model, reporters will still conduct interviews and gather the information needed for their articles, but the AI will turn their notes into draft articles. After that, human editors go back to fact-check and revise the draft before it is published.
According to The Plain Dealer, AI is meant to be a tool for writers, supporting them rather than replacing them. This way, writers have more time to do more groundwork.
When AI has significantly helped with the article, the byline of the story contains “Advance Local Express Desk.” This way, the publication discloses that AI was involved in the writing process.
Those who support this system argue that it has helped newsroom productivity. Quinn has stated that this enables journalists to engage in field reporting. The journalism industry has experienced significant layoffs, and the AI tool can help restore local reporting, which has been scaled back.
Some journalists working with this model have said that it has allowed them to spend more time reporting in the community and producing strong stories. Those in journalism-technology circles have argued that AI should be viewed as a workflow tool, the same way other technological advancements have helped journalism in the past.
However, this experiment has sparked controversy and concerns within the journalism community. Critics worry that depending on AI to develop drafts could weaken writing skills among reporters, specifically young journalists who need time to develop their writing abilities. Others fear that AI in newsrooms will raise questions around credibility and integrity.
Some experts believe that careful oversight will be crucial if AI tools are used in journalism. Jeffrey Neely, a journalism professor at the University of Tampa, said that AI should be viewed as a tool but warned that journalists must be cautious of how they use it.
“AI is a tool. Like any other tool, you have to figure out how to use it,” Neely said. “Anything that outsources critical thinking is going to be a problem.”
Neely compared the rise of AI to previous technological disruptions in journalism, such as the introduction of television and computers. While initially these innovations sparked fears about the future of journalism, news organizations adapted and found a way to incorporate them into their work.
However, he emphasized that AI presents unique challenges due to its ability to perform tasks that are traditionally done by people. Neely noted that newsrooms must ensure that there is strong editorial oversight.
Neely also raised concerns about how this AI tool might affect young journalists. If reporters rely heavily on AI to develop their drafts, they may not be able to fully develop the writing and critical thinking skills needed for journalism, Neely said.
“If it’s just making the process faster but the final product is equally valuable, then there’s no problem,” Neely said. “But journalists still have to question what AI produces.”