AI and journalism: Through the years

AI and its partnership with journalism is a relatively new thing but very basic forms of it were being introduced as early as 2004.

1960s-1970s- The use of software such as spell and grammar checks, as well as the first generation of word processing tools. This included very early signs of automated writing, such as for financial, sports and data based news.

2000s- Here was when AI was creeping into the newsroom which freed up journalists to focus on more 'interesting' forms of journalism like investigative. Automated news systems entered the BBC as well, through the BBC's "Juicer" tool which analyses social media data to identify trending topics  and produce news content.

2015-17- Ethical considerations were begging to be introduced, but at its very basic form as AI was still just being used for automated reporting in sports and big data driven stories. not many newsrooms had training or policies in place like the BBC and others today. Andreas Graefe's guide to automated journalism raised early questions about transparency, biases and responsibility.

2018-2020- Stories began to arise that were influenced by AI and had clear issues like the ones previously stated, Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report (Digital News Report 2018 | Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism ) discussed algorithmic news delivery and public trust. Large organisations begin using and developing AI driven tools. Reuters developed an in house AI tool designed to assist journalists by suggesting story ideas and generating drafts based on data.

2020-2023- Generative AI and large language models like ChatGPT and Claude are introduced which forced news companies in the UK to set out clear rules, policies and training against AI use. Issues like made up sources and transparency were clear. BuzzFeed publicly embraced AI to help generate travel content (BuzzFeed is using AI to write SEO-bait travel guides | The Verge) which sparked backlash from audiences. JournalismAI released a global AI policy template which offers frameworks for newsrooms developing their own AI ethics policies, with support from LSE and the Google News Initiative. Ofcom and CMA begin reviewing AI’s impact on the United Kingdoms news reporting industry.

As we now enter towards 2026 who knows what else AI may effect in the future or what other events may take place.

(The cover image for this article was created by Chat GPT)