Journalism, can this industry still survive in the next generation? It’s time to have a debate

Journalists and reporters are people in charge of writing news and reporting information to the public. According to the search, we are able to find diverse kinds of journalists depending on roles and workplaces. For instance, there are newspaper, broadcasting reporter, editorial writer and commentator who comment the news, editor or desk working in editing news and statement, and photo-journalists who take pictures necessary in journal news. Furthermore, there are also freelance journalists who don’t work in an enterprise, but write news alone. Journalists are so significant that they shouldn’t be removed. There is plausible reason. It is that we are able to recognize accidents, disaster, damages to society, and further problems being dealt with in politics and economy through journalists’ media coverage. Also they are in charge of arguing public opinion,. Then, if we are passed to the next generation like 5th industrial era, how should journalists in charge of conducting crucial role be like? Due to difference in opinion between people in affirmative and negative prospects of journalist, there is controversy about it indeed. As our life develops and progresses, Will journalism still survive in the next generation? Have a look of their opinions.

 

‘Journalist’ can be kept as human job in the next generation (The affirmative prospect)

 To begin with the positive prospect, there is an universalization in the use of media and there is importance of what journalist are in charge of due to large dissemination of electronic devices(smartphone, computer, laptop, tablet PC for instance) it is possible to readily access the online media and articles, therefore media society has been universal. To acquire information readily from hand is also what affects prospect of journalists. Furthermore, the number of broadcasters and channels have increased, and as the border of news and broadcast falls apart, new media such as internet and IPTV have been created, so the prospect of journalist seems affirmative. Then, what about the relationship between human journalists and AI journalists? It is fact that AI journalists can consolidate reported information and relay it to us more quickly than human journalists. However, according to capabilities journalists should possess, ethics is also a major one. AI journalists conduct media coverage only with the purpose to relay information to the public, so there is a limit to practice ethics. Furthermore, 4C field(Collaboration, Creativity, Communication, Critical thinking); these unique human abilities AI cannot replace will be significant in the 4th, 5th industrial era, and journalists will have to conduct media coverage with this ability. Also according to Sweden Cliwall professor team in 2014, AI journalists can report information more quickly and accurate than people, but their articles might be almost rather monotonous and lack interest. AI journalists don't write articles interestingly as much as human journalists, bur rather place more significance on accuracy and how fast they write it.

 

Journalist career will be stolen by AI (The negative prospect)

 Unlike the affirmative prospect, the opposite side has a negative perspective, The development of technology and AI are found to be the main reasons. As our generation progresses, AI technology also progresses. This means AI journalism is becoming more prominent, and AI journalists are able to write more articles, which are more accurate and reliable than articles written by human reporters. Furthermore, it is even mentioned that AI journalists are capable of writing article much more specific than human journalists, and according to the report of Reuters institute for the Study of journalism, 90% of online contents can be generated by machines by 2026. Even though ethics is indispensable in journalism, people prefer more to have

news quickly sent to them.

 

So, what is the result? (Final comments)

 Reading these details, we have been shown the both affirmative and negative prospects of journalists. As expected, positive side views the prospect of human journalists as affirmative, in contrary the other side does the opposite. Though it might be difficult to determine whether the prospect will be positive or adverse, but there is something we have to keep in mind. That is, we should not be robbed of the role of a “Journalist” by AI, but should take more effort to keep it. Journalism belongs to human, not AI or machines.

 

 

By Staff Reporter Moon Daekwon (2-5)