Four basic steps to building an AI strategy in the newsroom

“And what that becomes depends on how we position ourselves,” the expert declared at the recent Media's Next Chapter event.

Four Basic Steps to Building an AI Strategy in Picture Studio 1 — Photo: GI

Now, a large portion of readers are moving away from news websites and apps. User analysis from FT Strategies shows that readers are increasingly using alternative channels and AI-powered experiences to access news content, including services like Spotify.

For media organizations, on the other hand, AI also offers opportunities in areas as diverse as editorial, business, or optimization. But according to a recent survey by FT Strategies with the Google News Initiative, nearly half of 1,000 news organizations do not have a clear AI strategy, compared to just 4% who do.

Implementing AI in your newsroom won't happen on its own. Here are four steps to building an AI strategy:

Seize the opportunity

First, you need to understand what AI is and how it can be most useful in your newsroom. For example, creative AI can create new content, while predictive AI uses historical data to forecast future outcomes, such as readership and subscription trends. There is also a lot of potential for automating newsroom processes, which can be simpler and deliver a higher return on investment.

Test and learn

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. You will need to experiment to find the best approach and the AI tools that work best for your newsroom. Running experiments is not something journalism is particularly good at, but we need to experiment if we want to create something new.

Set up AI rules

It’s important to establish governance processes and create rules around the use of AI in your newsroom. For example, be clear about what AI should and shouldn’t be used for. You also need to decide which experiments to prioritize, define the link between AI and your overall strategy, and ensure resources are allocated to the right areas, people, and stakeholders.

Building resources

Finally, develop your people, processes, technology and data. When you create a structure, empower and upskill people, this will build more confidence in what you are doing.

Remember that AI can help in different areas. For example, it can help generate headlines, automate SEO, recommend or personalize content to increase reader engagement, and record events.

Managing AI also means considering how to approach ethical questions such as bias and stereotyping, fair competition, data privacy and security, transparency, and intellectual property. If your AI strategy is fit for purpose, you must be clear on all of these areas to both your employees and your audience.

“AI can’t create anything new, it can only replicate what already exists,” McLeod concludes. She adds that our job as journalists is to create new stories. So the next time you worry about being replaced by a robot, it’s important to remember that AI can’t think for itself and needs you to guide it.

Hoang Hai (according to FT, Journalism)

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