🤖📰 Are AI Newsrooms the Future or Just a New Way to Misinform Us? 🕵️‍♂️⚠️

• Global audiences are increasingly suspicious of AI-powered newsrooms.

• 52% of U.S. respondents and 63% of UK respondents are uncomfortable with AI-generated news.

• Concerns about misinformation are rising, especially in countries with upcoming elections.

• News influencers on platforms like TikTok are gaining more traction than traditional media.

• Only 17% of respondents pay for online news, and many use discounted rates.

• Who: Global news consumers, journalists, and news influencers

• What: Rising distrust in AI-generated news content

• When: Ongoing, with data from the latest Reuters Institute report

• Where: Survey conducted in the U.S., UK, South Africa, and other countries

• Why: Concerns about misinformation and the reliability of AI in journalism

Suspicion in the Digital and AI Age

A recent report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism reveals an unsettling trend: global audiences are increasingly wary of AI-powered newsrooms. The study highlights that:

• 52% of U.S. respondents

• 63% of UK respondents

are uncomfortable with news produced primarily by AI. These numbers tell a story of deep-seated suspicion.

"It was surprising to see the level of suspicion," says Nic Newman, senior research associate at the Reuters Institute. "People broadly had fears about what might happen to content reliability and trust."

Concerns about false news content online have jumped by three percentage points since last year. Now, 59% of respondents express worry. This concern is even more pronounced in countries like South Africa and the U.S., where elections are imminent:

• 81% in South Africa

• 72% in the U.S.

The Subscription Struggle

Adding to the woes of newsrooms is the ongoing reluctance of audiences to pay for news subscriptions. Despite a slight uptick during the pandemic, only 17% of respondents across 20 countries report paying for online news.

This figure has stubbornly remained the same for the past three years. Notably, a significant portion of U.S. news subscribers are taking advantage of discounted rates through trials or promotions:

• 46% pay less than the full subscription price.

The Rise of News Influencers

In a twist of digital fate, news influencers on platforms like TikTok are now competing with mainstream media. A survey of over 5,600 TikTok users revealed that:

• 57% pay more attention to individual personalities

• 34% pay more attention to traditional journalists or news brands.

Creators like Vitus "V" Spehar, who has amassed 3.1 million followers, have found unique ways to engage audiences. Spehar delivers the day's top headlines from under their desk, offering a more relaxed perspective compared to the conventional news anchor. This quirky approach seems to resonate, especially with younger audiences.

Nic Newman points out, "Newsrooms need to build a direct relationship with their audiences while also strategically using platforms to connect with people who are trickier to reach, like younger audiences. We see that these influencers have a bigger role on the platforms."

Mainstream vs. Alternative Voices

The Digital News Report also discovered that the top 10 news personalities cited by U.S. respondents are more renowned for their political commentary than original reporting. This list includes figures like:

• Tucker Carlson

• Joe Rogan

• David Pakman.

The challenge for traditional news outlets is clear: adapt or risk being overshadowed by charismatic influencers who are reshaping how news is consumed and trusted.

• 🌍📉 Growing concerns: Global worries about AI in news production and misinformation are increasing, according to a report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.

• 📊📅 Report highlights: The annual Digital News Report, based on surveys of nearly 100,000 people across 47 countries, shows the challenges news media face in raising revenue and sustaining business.

• 📰🤖 New AI challenges: Newsrooms worldwide are grappling with generative AI as tech giants and startups like Google and OpenAI develop tools to summarize information and divert traffic from news websites.

• 🤔⚠️ Consumer skepticism: The report found that consumers are particularly suspicious of AI-generated news content on sensitive topics like politics.

• 🇺🇸🇬🇧 Uncomfortable with AI: 52% of U.S. respondents and 63% of UK respondents expressed discomfort with news produced mostly by AI. The survey noted that people are more comfortable with AI assisting behind the scenes to enhance journalists' work efficiency.

• 🚨📈 False news concerns: Worries about false news content online have risen by three percentage points since last year, with 59% of respondents expressing concern. This figure is even higher in South Africa (81%) and the U.S. (72%), especially with upcoming elections.

• 💸📰 Subscription struggles: Another issue for news organizations is the general reluctance of audiences to pay for news subscriptions. Despite some growth during the pandemic, only 17% of respondents across 20 countries pay for online news, a figure unchanged for the past three years.

• 🇺🇸💰 Discounted subscriptions: In the U.S., a significant portion of news subscribers likely pay discounted rates due to trials or promotions, with 46% paying less than the full subscription price.

The convergence of AI and influencer-driven news is reshaping journalism in unprecedented ways. Here are the key takeaways:

• AI in News: Automates tasks, enhances coverage, raises accuracy concerns.

• Influencers: Personalize news, increase engagement, risk of bias and misinformation.

• Hybrid Approach: Combining AI and human journalism could offer the best of both worlds.

• Stay Critical: Verify sources and seek diverse news perspectives.

• Future Outlook: Continued evolution and adaptation of newsrooms to maintain trust and credibility.

How do you create stunning and visually compelling Video Thumbnails with Chat GPT & Mid Journey ?

Step 1 - Identify your main topic of your video & Generate Synonyms

Start with the main subject or topic of your video

Prompt 1 : Give me synonyms for Daily Workflow

Give me synonyms for [Video Topic]

Output :

Step 2 : Visual Brainstorming

Link each synonym with a movie character, setting them in a scene or describing why they link well

Prompt 2 :

Now pair those with visual representations with movie characters in a list.

Output:

/Step 3 : Create your Video thumbnail in Mid Journey

Prompt 3 :

Please create a thumbnail image Character: Hermione Granger from "Harry Potter" Visual Representation: Hermione meticulously following her timetable using the Time-Turner to attend multiple classes.

Please create a thumbnail image Character: Ethan Hunt from "Mission: Impossible" Visual Representation: Ethan Hunt following a detailed daily itinerary for his missions. --s 250

Step 4 : Change the Created thumbnails with your images

@Joydeepaimaverick Like James Bond From "007" Visual Representation: Carrying Out His Daily Procedures And Protocols In His Espionage Activities

1. Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with how newsrooms are evolving and the role of AI in journalism.

2. Diversify News Sources: Follow a mix of traditional journalists and independent news influencers to get a well-rounded perspective.

3. Fact-Check: Always verify the information, especially if it comes from AI-generated news or social media influencers.

4. Support Quality Journalism: Consider subscribing to reputable news sources to support quality journalism.

5. Engage in Discussions: Participate in conversations about the future of news and the impact of AI to stay informed and make your voice heard.

In the words of Nic Newman, "The future of journalism lies in rebuilding trust and finding innovative ways to connect with a diverse and skeptical audience."

As we navigate this new era of AI and influencer-driven news, one thing is certain: the way we consume information is evolving, and newsrooms must evolve too. Whether AI will be our ally or adversary in this journey remains to be seen. For now, the trust of the audience is the ultimate prize.

Stay ahead with Think Ahead With AI, where we bring you the latest insights into the evolving world of journalism

1. Feedly: Curates and personalizes your news feed using AI.

2. NewsGuard: Provides trust ratings for news websites to help combat misinformation.

3. Pocket: Uses AI to recommend articles based on your interests.

4. BuzzSumo: Analyzes content performance and identifies trending topics.

5. Narrative Science Quill: Transforms data into human-readable stories.

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Sanjukta Chakrabortty
Gen. AI Explorer