Embracing the AI Revolution in Journalism: Sree Sreenivasan

“AI won’t replace humans, but humans using AI will replace humans not using AI.”
– Sree Sreenivasan

In the first episode of AI in Journalism, I had a great conversation with the well-known journalist Sree Sreenivasan, a co-founder of Digimentors. We talked about how AI is changing journalism, including how it can improve workflows, boost creativity, and support local news. Here are some important insights and useful tips from our discussion to help you navigate this exciting but challenging time.

AI as a Game-Changer in Journalism

Insight: AI is revolutionizing journalism, providing tools for SEO and transforming text stories into engaging formats. Major news organizations have dedicated AI teams to stay ahead in this technological race.

Tip: Stay informed about the latest developments in AI and consider incorporating AI tools into your workflow to boost productivity and creativity. Platforms like Digimentors can offer valuable resources and training to help you get started.

Balancing Opportunities and Job Security

Insight: While AI presents opportunities, it also raises challenges, such as potential job layoffs. However, as Sree emphasized, understanding and leveraging AI can secure your position in the industry.

Tip: Concentrate on learning and adapting to new technologies. Tools like the Journalist Toolbox are crucial for staying updated on tips and tricks for effectively using AI without compromising journalistic integrity.

Enhancing Creativity with AI

Insight: AI tools such as ChatGPT and SudoWrite can boost creativity by offering fresh perspectives and suggestions, thereby making the writing process more dynamic and engaging.

Tip: Remember to utilize AI as a collaborative tool. For example, input your ideas into AI writing tools to produce new perspectives and enhance your work to reflect your voice better. As I mentioned in the episode, creatively using AI can turn routine tasks into innovative results.

Reviving Local News

Insight: AI has the potential to revitalize local news by reducing operational costs and making it feasible for smaller news organizations to thrive.

Tip: Explore affordable AI solutions to streamline newsroom operations, freeing up resources for in-depth reporting and community engagement to support vibrant and impactful local journalism.

Quotes to Reflect On

“I have found that in training journalists about technology for about 30 years now, they are often reluctant to jump into new tech because they’re already drowning in tech.”

“Every major news organization has an AI team, an AI director, and a VP of AI products. They are determined not to be left behind.”

“My message to journalists is … understand this technology, get ahead of it, fight to save the things that you can, push past the things that don’t really affect you, and show the value of what we do. Journalism matters, accuracy matters, fighting disinformation and misinformation matters.”

Conclusion

AI is undoubtedly transforming the journalism industry. It provides tools that enhance productivity and creativity while also posing significant challenges. Journalists can adapt to this new landscape by embracing these technologies and understanding their implications. You can connect with Sree on LinkedIn for additional insights and resources and explore his work with Digimentors.

Stay tuned for more discussions at the intersection of AI and journalism. Always keep questioning and growing. If you enjoyed this post, remember to subscribe and share your thoughts with us!

Credit: This blog post is based on the show notes from AI in Journalism and edited by Grammarly and ChatGpt