Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it has become an indispensable tool in modern journalism. As technology evolves at breakneck speed, the media industry is experiencing a seismic transformation. Yet, the future of journalism in an AI-driven world remains uncertain. With innovations emerging at an unprecedented pace, newsrooms must adapt swiftly to stay relevant.
AI’s integration into newsrooms is reshaping how information is gathered, processed, and delivered. From automating transcription and data extraction to multimedia editing and fact-checking, AI enables journalists to prioritize storytelling and in-depth analysis, freeing them from repetitive tasks.
Recognizing this shift, the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and Voice of America (VOA) recently organized a transformative workshop for journalists, primarily from India, with additional participants from Nepal (2) and Sri Lanka (3). Trainers from InOldNews provided hands-on demonstrations, showcasing AI’s current applications in publications while exploring its future potential.
The three-day workshop was an intense, full-day (9AM-5PM) session packed with practical exercises and discussions. Despite the relentless pace, participants remained engaged as they explored AI’s role in journalism, its ethical challenges, and its practical applications.
The future of journalism lies in the continuous exploration and integration of AI and other emerging technologies, underscoring the need for research and practice to maximize their potential.
Key topics included the pitfalls of AI, such as errors and bias, and the development of newsroom guidelines for responsible AI usage. Participants examined the reliability of AI-generated content and explored AI’s capabilities in audio and video production, from transcription and summarization to cleaning up audio. The potential for data extraction was also highlighted, demonstrating how AI can methodically extract valuable information from diverse documents.
The workshop emphasized generative AI for visual content creation and strategies to engage audiences using AI tools. Practical sessions on optimizing prompt writing bridged theory with real-world application, allowing journalists to experiment with over a dozen AI tools and techniques.
Discussions also focused on how journalists can approach AI reporting from unique angles, providing value in ways that AI cannot replicate. The workshop underscored the irreplaceable human qualities of context, nuance, and ethics, ensuring that technology complements rather than dictates journalistic work.
The AI-driven transformation of journalism is inevitable. Newsrooms that embrace AI responsibly will unlock unprecedented efficiency and innovation, while those that resist risk irrelevance. However, as powerful as these tools are, they are only as effective as the people wielding them. AI should enhance journalism, not undermine it, and the human element must remain at the core of the industry.
The balance between automation and human oversight will define whether AI becomes a tool for progress or a threat to credibility. As AI takes root in newsrooms, the challenge for journalists is clear: how to harness its power while upholding the principles of accuracy, fairness, and trust. The answer lies in a balanced approach—leveraging AI to elevate journalism, not replace it.
Mastering AI in Journalism: A Rapid Dive into the Future
Embracing AI is no longer optional—it’s a necessity for any media outlets. However, the path forward requires caution, transparency, and a commitment to maintaining journalistic integrity. The question isn’t whether AI will shape journalism; it’s how the industry will wield this transformative tool responsibly.
The emergence of artificial intelligence in today’s digital journalism presents an array of opportunities to revolutionize the field.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) enlisted trainers Manon Verchot and Sanshey Biswas to condense weeks of practical technology training into a focused three-day workshop. Designed for busy journalists, the intensive sessions allowed participants to quickly integrate AI tools into their workflows, with hands-on discussions and exercises ensuring lasting value beyond the training.
Their training provided media professionals with a crash course on managing AI risks while leveraging its transformative potential within the media ecosystem. In an era where viral content spreads at lightning speed, often compromising public trust and journalistic credibility, these efforts are indispensable.
AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants are gaining traction for brainstorming, enhancing ideas, and retrieving information online. While their performance isn’t flawless, especially in nuanced tasks, they excel in handling general inquiries when given well-crafted prompts. The future of journalism lies in the continuous exploration and integration of AI and other emerging technologies, underscoring the need for research and practice to maximize their potential.
Generative AI tools are becoming increasingly embedded in digital platforms, news websites, and social messaging services, forming a significant part of modern media consumption. Yet, their permanence and reliability remain uncertain. Major AI companies have yet to disclose critical details such as algorithms, training methodologies, and systematic processes. The performance of these systems hinges on how effectively users craft prompts and on the quality and transparency of their data sources. However, many responses still lack consistency or clear origins.
The news industry faces a dual challenge: neither ignoring nor over-relying on technology. The probabilistic nature of AI necessitates a balanced approach. Retooling newsrooms with AI must be about augmenting capabilities, not creating unsustainable dependencies. Experts across media, academia, technology, and policy are still researching the implications of AI across editorial, commercial, and technological domains.
For instance, tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity often provide straightforward answers, while Google’s Gemini chatbot is still refining its ability to offer reliable, source-based responses. Training AI to prioritize accuracy and transparency is paramount. However, questions remain about the origins and reliability of AI-generated answers, emphasizing the need for double-checking facts.
Generative AI tools powered by large language models (LLMs) are prone to “hallucinations”—fabricating false or misleading information presented as accurate. As such, media organizations must develop clear strategies for integrating AI responsibly. Leveraging AI to strengthen media capabilities, speed up workflows, and enhance business models is critical.
By leveraging the AI tools already at our disposal and embracing experimentation, journalists can find new ways to innovate and expand their craft. AI need not be feared—it must be understood, responsibly harnessed, and creatively applied to strengthen journalism’s role in informing and connecting the world.
Several media organizations are already exploring AI’s potential. The Associated Press uses AI to create video summaries of major news stories, while the BBC has experimented with AI-generated weather reports. Advanced video editing tools powered by AI allow journalists to produce engaging multimedia content swiftly.
The workshop by Verchot and Biswas vividly illustrated AI’s emerging technologies, applications, and challenges. From redefining newsroom practices to understanding the ethical implications of AI, their training painted a comprehensive picture of how journalism can navigate this evolving landscape.
The Rise of AI in Journalism: Opportunity, Evolution, and Responsibility
The emergence of artificial intelligence in today’s digital journalism presents an array of opportunities to revolutionize the field. While AI cannot replace human judgment, critical thinking, or the organic investigative rigor of newsgathering, it has the potential to play a pivotal role in fostering ethical, responsible, and truthful journalism. As an essential tool, AI can refine reporting and elevate the quality of media production like never before.
AI is poised to transform journalism, from AI-generated news anchors delivering personalized content to breaking down language barriers and bringing local stories to global audiences. The digital age, marked by unprecedented connectivity, has redefined journalism’s reach—making news available in real-time and extending its impact worldwide.
Far from rendering journalists obsolete, AI is a powerful ally for adaptable professionals. It enhances their work by automating tasks like editing, structuring, and improving the precision of news reports, paving the way for more data-driven and impactful storytelling.
USAGM, along with Voice of America, must remain at the forefront of the fight for free and independent journalism. The organization’s unparalleled accountability, transparency, and impact make it irreplaceable.
Journalism has always thrived alongside technological advancements, evolving from print to radio, television, social media, and now digital platforms. AI is the next frontier, and the basics behind tools like Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, demonstrate its potential to empower journalists rather than diminish their value.
By leveraging the AI tools already at our disposal and embracing experimentation, journalists can find new ways to innovate and expand their craft. AI need not be feared—it must be understood, responsibly harnessed, and creatively applied to strengthen journalism’s role in informing and connecting the world.
AI and the Media: Why USAGM and VOA Must Step Up
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integral to the media industry, the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM)—whose mission is to inform, engage, and connect people worldwide in support of freedom and democracy—faces a critical moment. AI technologies are driving a global technological revolution, reshaping the media landscape in profound ways.
USAGM & Voice of America must stepping up efforts to harness the transformative potential of AI while mitigating its risks to free press. This includes implementing impactful training programs and practical initiatives designed to empower journalists across the globe. As AI reshapes the way media is produced, distributed, and consumed, journalists must be equipped not only to navigate its complexities but also to safeguard journalistic integrity in the face of new challenges.
USAGM and Voice of America are uniquely positioned to lead these efforts, providing journalists and media outlets with tools to enhance their work through interactive programming and innovative approaches. However, the growing threat of AI misuse by bad actors demands a strong focus on ethical frameworks and global knowledge-sharing. Addressing issues such as disinformation, deepfake attacks, and online harassment requires an urgent and coordinated response.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is swiftly emerging as a cornerstone of the media landscape. To harness its potential and navigate its challenges, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) must take the lead in advancing training, fostering collaboration, driving research, and spearheading a broader transformation to shape the future of global media.
To meet the growing demand for expertise, training programs must not only be periodic but also encompass a diverse range of AI applications. Well-recognized AI training initiatives by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) have the potential to create positive, actionable results. These programs can equip journalists and media executives with advanced problem-solving skills, directly impacting the efficiency and quality of their work.
Such training programs extend beyond journalists or media houses, benefiting a broad spectrum of audiences. Free and independent media play a critical role in boosting efficiency and ensuring quality journalism in this digital era.
By seizing the promise of innovation while safeguarding against its perils, the global media industry can meet the demands of this transformative age and defend the pillars of freedom and democracy.
USAGM’s initiatives are essential in combating the manipulation of digital information, the spread of propaganda, and censorship efforts by authoritarian regimes. These regimes exploit international organizations, co-opt bilateral partnerships, and control media through billions spent on spreading disinformation and shaping public opinion to favor of their totalitarian systems.
USAGM, along with Voice of America, must remain at the forefront of the fight for free and independent journalism. The organization’s unparalleled accountability, transparency, and impact make it irreplaceable.
Its global network of affiliates is a testament to its enduring influence, one that no other entity could replicate. Any vacuum left by USAGM would be exploited by bad actors, leading to irreversible damage to the media ecosystem throughout the world.
In an age of covert data harvesting and the purchase of foreign news outlets by the authoritarian regimes, USAGM must accelerate its efforts to counter disinformation and totalitarian digital dominance. This includes intensifying campaigns to address the spread of propaganda, censorship of critical voices, and the control of news infrastructure by authoritarian regimes.
Historically, USAGM effectively countered Communist propaganda and remains a vital force in the ongoing battle between freedom and totalitarianism in the era of digital domination. The moment is critical. USAGM must double down on its efforts, creating strategic programs to equip media professionals for the sweeping changes brought by AI-driven journalism.
By seizing the promise of innovation while safeguarding against its perils, the global media industry can meet the demands of this transformative age and defend the pillars of freedom and democracy.
The stakes are high—any lapse in USAGM’s efforts could pave the way for manipulation that undermines global freedom of information. Now is the time for USAGM to solidify its role as a global leader in safeguarding independent media and free journalism.
(This opinion piece utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) for structuring the write-up. The views expressed are based on the author’s personal experiences during participation in USAGM’s organized workshop, “Ethical Use of AI for Journalism,” in Noida, and reflect solely his opinions, which do not necessarily align with the editorial policy of Nepal News.)
