The role of Artificial Intelligence in the construction of news: Challenges and opportunities facing journalism in an age underlined by increasing distrust in knowledge-producing institutions.

Abstract

News is constructed through a myriad of processes reflecting the cultural and social context in which newsrooms operate as well as the work routines and ownerships structures that govern news organisations. Natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms have now enabled news organisations to automate content creation, significantly improving efficiency. These algorithms can analyse data, generate headlines, and write news articles. Such innovations have opened opportunities for journalists to focus on investigative journalism and in-depth reporting, while also providing real-time news to an information-hungry audience. However, the rise of AI in news construction also brings its own set of challenges, one of the most significant issues being trust. This paper will discuss how AI is currently used in news organizations, highlighting successful projects and lessons learned. The democratisation of content creation and the potential for personalised, data-driven news experiences also hold immense promise. Yet the industry must grapple with profound issues of trust, ethics, and transparency to maintain the integrity of journalism in an era where traditional knowledge-producing institutions are met with scepticism