Report: The Peril and Promise of AI for Journalism - Centre for Computational Social Science

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Journalists are increasingly focused on the emergence of AI, particularly Generative AI, as it presents both opportunities and challenges for the industry. While AI tools offer new avenues for experimentation and innovation, there are growing concerns about their potential threat to journalism. The Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI) addressed these issues by hosting a workshop on Journalism, Disinformation, and AI at the University of British Columbia on November 21, 2023. Supported by the Centre for Computational Social Science, the Consulate General of Germany in Vancouver, as well as UBC’s School of Journalism, Writing, and Media, the event facilitated discussions on the intersection of AI and journalism, aiming to explore its implications for the future of media.

Speakers from the workshop:

Matt Frehner, Head of Visual Journalism at The Globe and Mail
Cathryn Grothe, Research Analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at Freedom House
Stephen Marche, Novelist and Essayist
Thorsten Quandt, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, University of Münster
Julia Smirnova, Senior Analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD)
Chris Tenove, CSDI Interim Director

The report, titled “The Peril and Promise of AI for Journalism,” delves into critical issues stemming from the workshop, alongside current scholarly and journalistic discourse. There are three significant considerations within the report:

How generative AI may enhance the effectiveness of disinformation campaigns.
Risks associated with AI tool adoption in newsrooms, such as the propagation of inaccurate publications.
Threats AI poses to journalism, including the displacement of human journalists, and the rise of content automation.

To tackle these challenges, journalists, news industry professionals, and policymakers are actively engaged in efforts to enhance the efficacy and ethicality of AI within the industry.

CSDI and CCSS aim to contribute meaningfully to these discussions, fostering a more informed, resilient, and responsible journalism landscape in the age of AI.

Report Credits

This report was researched and written by Nishtha Gupta, Jenina Ibañez, and Chris Tenove.

Report design and copy-editing by Andrew Munroe at the Global Reporting Centre.

Additional copy-editing by Netheena Matthews.

Report distribution by Emma Arkell and Michelle Meiklejohn at the Global Reporting Centre.

Further details on the research team and acknowledgments can be found in the report.

Citation: Gupta, Nishtha, Jenina Ibañez, and Chris Tenove. (2024). The Peril and Promise of AI for Journalism: Vancouver: Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions, University of British Columbia.

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0).