AI-powered disruption is just around the corner
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Hello and a big welcome to our new subscribers from The Wall Street Journal, Deutsche Welle, De Correspondent, 15min.lt and many others!
Last week Open AI launched the latest text generation model, ChatGPT, which has taken the core GPT 3.5 model to a new level.
Twitter, in particular, has been full of developers, copywriters, engineers and host of other white-collar professionals demonstrating – with a mix of wonder and terror – just how well the algorithm was able to produce the kind of written output they create on a daily basis.
The AI still has some issues. Critics argue it is little more than a very effective tool that parrots real speech rather than creating anything by itself. But the examples of ChatGPT providing both answers to essay questions – and grading them! – hint at just how disruptive the technology may soon become for a host of industries, from education to publishing.
There have already been predictions about new businesses opening up based on ChatGPT. The model: a website, input fields, a ChatGPT API (basically linking up to the tech) and a quick human review.
It is likely that this application will soon spread to journalism. Just how effective it will be is another question – one that will determine the scale of disruption that media outlets will face in 2023.
One thing is obvious – journalists and news organisations will need to be flexible and ready to adapt to changes. To that end, last week Emma Löfgren prepared for The Fix a useful guide on how to make changes actually stick in your newsroom.
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Nine key tactics for making changes stick in the newsroom
Emma Löfgren
So you’re about to revolutionise your newsroom – now what? Here’s top expert tips to ensure change doesn’t fall by the wayside
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What’s your media job: Head of Audience Development
Hleb Liapeika
Interview with Sebastian Katthöver, Head of Audience Development at Deutsche Welle
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Automated journalism and the future of news media: INMA report
WNIP
With less fear these days that robots are going to take their jobs — and a greater eagerness to welcome their assistive capabilities — newsrooms are learning to embrace automated tools
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In many ways life has returned to pre-pandemic normal – but commuter traffic has not. This is an existential problem for Britain’s free newspapers that rely on commuters to make money on advertising – like Evening Standard, which once saw circulation of close to 1 million. Financial Times looks at the uncertain future of free newspapers in the UK. |
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Speaking about pandemic-induced changes, new research from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism suggests the news industry has embraced the new normal, with 61% of surveyed media leaders from 39 countries saying their organisation has mostly implemented hybrid working. The report’s author Federica Cherubini delves deep into the future of hybrid work.
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How do you cover Iranian protests from Prague? The Washington Post writes about how Radio Farda, the Iranian branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, relies on existing contacts and navigates in the sea of misinformation to report on one of the most important stories in the Middle East today.
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Trust in journalists has increased in the UK – though from quite a low base. “The proportion of Britons who say they trust journalists has increased over the last year and nearly doubled since 2000”, according to an annual Ipsos study as summarised by PressGazette. With 29% respondents trusting the journalists to tell the truth, reporters are still among the least-trusted professions (and almost twice less trusted as “the ordinary man/woman in the street”), but that’s a noticeable improvement compared to 2020 when the number was 23%. |
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Russian independent news TV channel Dozhd ( TV Rain) is facing scrutiny after its journalist seemed to suggest the organisation is helping Russian soldiers “with equipment and basic amenities at the front” in the war against Ukraine. Dozhd is based in Latvia, having been forced to leave Russia in the wake of the Kremlin’s crackdown on opposition press. Latvian authorities opened an investigation into the remark; the organisation’s leadership fired the host who made the remark, apologised and denied any involvement in helping Russian armed forces. |
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Future, tech publication launched by American investment company Andreessen Horowitz last year to a lot of buzz (and criticism from mainstream news figures who lamented the effort to circumvent legacy media), is shutting down. Reporting suggests the publication didn't have a coherent editorial strategy, and traffic has not been great. “The ignominious fizzling out [of Future] highlights the challenges of "going direct" and building a new media brand from scratch — even with one of tech's biggest investors driving the effort”, Insider’s Rob Price and Melia Russell argue.
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Opportunities and deadlines
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Global Health Security Fund. The 2023 Global Health Security project will provide funding for the journalists who cover global health security. The grant size is up to $8,500 (€8,070). The target countries of the call are: France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway and Sweden.
More info: https://bit.ly/3EZqRG4
Deadline: December 9
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Media Action Grants for the 2024 European Election. The European Parliament is accepting applications for media activities that will promote citizens’ participation and engagement in the upcoming 2024 European elections. TV, radio, print and digital media can apply.
More info: https://bit.ly/3uptE6g
Deadline: January 26
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Webinar: Turkey Online Master Class: Visual Storytelling for New Formats. The International Press Institute hosts an online masterclass from Natalia Guerro, senior journalist at BBC Reel. She will discuss the crucial role of video explainers and how to adopt different formats in visual storytelling.
More info: https://bit.ly/3gSvbPe
When: December 7
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Fundraising Manager. CORRECTIV, a German non-profit investigative newsroom, is looking for a Fundraising Manager to lead its fundraising work, with a thematic focus on democracy promotion. The position is “preferably” based in Berlin.
More info: https://bit.ly/3FlXQ8J
Deadline: Open till filled
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Senior Project Manager. The Economist is looking for a professional who will be responsible for the successful delivery of key digital and technical projects. Responsibilities include project management of a variety of key technical initiatives. The position is based in London.
More info: https://bit.ly/3gSQ4dh
Deadline: Open till filled
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Development Director. The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) will hire a Development Director to lead the organisation’s development efforts. Previous fundraising and management experience are needed. You must be eligible to work in the United States; the position is remote but requires travelling within the US.
More info: https://bit.ly/3Vqz0dG
Deadline: December 20
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The Fix Hiring
Contributors. The time has come for us to expand our amazing team of contributors. We are looking for an experienced professional, with an interest in the media business. The position is remote and the workload is flexible.
Also, if you are not ready for a long-term commitment, but have an idea that would fit The Fix - pitch us.
Click here for more details
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