AI in NH Local News: Uses & Limits

AI in Local Newsrooms: Balancing Efficiency and Ethics

Local newsrooms in New Hampshire are embracing AI tools to enhance efficiency and streamline reporting processes. However, strict guidelines ensure that AI supports, rather than replaces, human journalists. This careful integration of AI reflects a growing trend in the industry, as news organizations navigate the benefits and limitations of artificial intelligence.

AI tools like Otter are increasingly being used for tasks such as transcription, saving reporters valuable time. Newsrooms are also experimenting with AI to monitor public meetings they cannot attend, helping them identify potential stories or sources. Despite these advancements, newsrooms remain cautious, emphasizing that AI will not create articles or photos.

Cautionary Tales of AI in Journalism

The combination of AI and journalism has led to some notable missteps. Earlier this year, the Chicago Sun-Times and Philadelphia Inquirer published a summer reading list featuring non-existent books. The incident highlighted the risks of relying on generative AI without proper fact-checking. Jonathan Van Fleet, editor of the Concord Monitor, stressed that human involvement is crucial when using AI, as it cannot handle reporting, writing, editing, or fact-checking independently.

New Hampshire Newsrooms and AI Integration

In New Hampshire, newsrooms are thoughtfully incorporating AI into their workflows. Julie Hirshan Hart, editor at The Laconia Daily Sun, noted that while formal AI policies are still being developed, the newsroom is actively discussing its implementation. The Daily Sun has firmly decided not to use generative AI for writing articles. Instead, AI is used to generate ideas for headlines and captions, and to explore automating repetitive tasks like formatting police logs.

Hart emphasized that AI will never replace human journalists but can serve as a valuable tool in the writing and brainstorming process. Similarly, the Concord Monitor uses AI to improve existing workflows, such as recommending URLs for better search performance and converting public records from PDFs into searchable Word documents. Van Fleet highlighted that AI helps journalists work more efficiently without replacing their judgment or reporting skills.

Transparency in AI Use

As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, transparency is essential to maintain trust with readers. The Concord Monitor has published its AI policy on its website, outlining the guidelines for AI use in reporting, writing, and editing. The policy requires transparency about AI involvement and mandates that all AI-generated information must be reviewed by a human before publication.

Van Fleet underscored the importance of human interaction, stating that AI will not create fake articles or replace human reporting. Readers can expect to engage with real journalists, receive accurate quotes, and address any concerns directly with a human reporter. This commitment to transparency ensures that AI enhances journalism without compromising its integrity.

This article is part of Know Your News, an initiative by the Granite State News Collaborative and the New England Newspaper and Press Association's Press Freedom Committee to highlight the importance of the First Amendment, press freedom, and local news.