Algorithms are a Reporter’s New Best Friend

Abstract

This chapter provides an alternative consideration to the conventional view that automation amounts to an existential threat to the work of journalists. It considers the usual discussion about job losses on its head with a claim that "algorithms are a journalist's new best friend". The chapter discusses the usual discussion about job losses on its head with a claim that "algorithms are a journalist's new best friend". "Robot journalism" is a somewhat banal conceptualization, where illustrators often portray robots writing on computer keyboards instead of visually less attractive software. There has been a revolution in the production of news by smart machines thanks to the advancement of Natural Language Generation technologies, thus extending human capabilities and creating augmented journalism. Automated routine news is gradually complementing manually produced journalistic texts, creating emotional stress in many newsrooms. News alarms like those based on automated searches of police arrest records that Los Angeles Times crime reporters are using will be much more common.