Publishers, what should AI do for journalism?

AI can help journalists process large amounts of information, find relevant documents and support research. It can also handle translation, classification and transcription, and help match reporting with interested readers.

Journalists and publishers still carry responsibility for original reporting, investigations, source relationships, verification, context, editorial judgement, legal accountability and corrections.

Publishers are already working out how to use AI within those responsibilities.

Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni has argued that AI can be useful inside journalism, but human checks, clear disclosure, corrections and governance remain essential.

“Our journalists are responsible — and fully accountable — for everything we publish, just as they have always been.”

RTL reported that media companies are creating transparency rules for AI.

The Globe and Mail has published detailed guidance about when AI can and cannot be used in editorial work.

News Corp is using AI assistance for some local reporting. The New York Times is testing AI summaries. Other publishers are developing article listening, newsroom tools and licensing agreements.

Publishers and technology companies are also making commercial agreements. Apple has reportedly negotiated with publishers over news for Siri. OpenAI is funding 13 Axios local newsletters.

These examples show publishers using AI for specific tasks without handing over the whole job of journalism.

At Mera News, we use AI mainly to help people discover reporting. Publishers investigate and report. Mera finds readers who may need that work and directs them to the original publisher.

I want Mera to connect reporting with the people affected by it, while the newsroom retains editorial accountability and the publisher keeps its relationship with the reader.

Which parts of the news process should remain fully human, and which parts can AI improve safely?

Sources and credit: Alessandra Galloni, Sandra E. Martin, Calum Jaspan, Ana Maria Constantin, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), RTL Nederland, The Globe and Mail, The Sydney Morning Herald, TNW, Dinheiro Vivo.

Sources

• ABC News: Alessandra Galloni on AI and journalism
• RTL: transparency rules for AI
• The Globe and Mail: editorial AI standards
• The Sydney Morning Herald: News Corp’s AI-assisted local reporting
• The Next Web: New York Times AI summaries
• Dinheiro Vivo on SAPO: Apple and Siri publisher payments
• The Next Web: Axios and OpenAI agreement