Artificial intelligence and journalism

Journalism is in the list of jobs that Chat GPT said will be lost due to artificial intelligence. But ChatGPT is wrong. Artificial intelligence will enhance the work of real journalists by providing easy access to context and backgrounding.

AI merely combs the internet for published stories and data and cooks up a few paragraphs based on instructions given. That’s good for providing background, but not enough to write a good current story.

AI cannot replace reporters like my niece, Patricia Evangelista. When Patre wrote her gripping story on Duterte’s anti-drug killings, she spent time interviewing victims’ families, even risking her own safety tracking down sources in the underworld. AI cannot do what Patre did.

Similarly, Manny Mogato won his Pulitzer because he used old fashioned gumshoe journalism, learned from years covering the police and defense beats. AI cannot do what Manny did.

The ones who will lose their jobs are the sort of reporters who merely rewrite, if at all, press releases from offices they cover. That’s because their editors would have seen those releases earlier since propagandists also post their stories on social media and email to editors.

Newspapers in the past, sent the most experienced reporters to, for example, cover the Palace. They have previously covered business, economics, and national defense to enable them to ask intelligent questions. They don’t take the words of the Palace spokesman at face value.

I was watching the Palace briefing on the sugar importation issue and was disappointed none of the reporters asked the more relevant questions: violation of SRA’s own rules, why the retail prices have not gone down and why the government is allowing blatant profiteering by favored sugar traders to the detriment of the consumers. Usec Panganiban didn’t even sweat.

And if publishers and other media owners think they can save money because of AI, they are dead wrong. The world of AI means they must match competition in the quality of reporters and editors they hire. Compensation of journalists in the AI age will have to be commensurate to the technical skills they are required to have.

Journalists must now be well versed in the world of data journalism. A good example is Prinz Magtulis, formerly of Philippine Star Business and Financial Times and now working in New York after earning a Master of Science in Data Journalism from Columbia University. For now, he may be overqualified for our local newspapers given the kind of data and graphics driven journalism he practices in New York.

Another one is Edson Guido, formerly head of ABS-CBN News data analytics team and a graduate student in economics at UP. But it was just ABS-CBN who appreciated his skills.  Nevertheless, new age journalists will more likely have a degree in economics, political science or sociology than journalism or mass communication.

Anyone who is following the online editions of The New York Times and Washington Post can see that these newspapers have evolved. They do video reports and massive amounts of analytic pieces using statistical data. They are able to visualize their stories through attractive graphs.

How does ChatGPT work in real life?

One of my colleagues in a Viber group posted ChatGPT’s response to their IT head’s query about the implementing rules of the revised Public Service Act. This is what ChatGPT said:

“On March 20, 2023, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) released the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11659, also known as the Amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA). The IRR provides guidance on how the amendments to the PSA will be implemented, ensuring a smoother transition for businesses and consumers.

“The PSA was originally enacted in 1936 and aimed to regulate public services in the Philippines. However, over time, the law has become outdated and no longer reflects the needs of a rapidly changing economy. To address this, the Philippine government passed Republic Act No. 11659, which amends the PSA to better reflect the needs of a modern economy.

“One of the key changes introduced by the amendments is the inclusion of ‘public utilities’ as a type of public service that is subject to regulation. Public utilities, which include electricity, water, and telecommunications, have been previously excluded from regulation under the PSA. However, the inclusion of public utilities as a type of public service subject to regulation is expected to provide greater protection to consumers and ensure that public utilities are operating efficiently.

“Another major change introduced by the amendments is the removal of the requirement for a franchise to operate a public service. Previously, a franchise was required for any company seeking to operate a public service in the Philippines. However, this requirement was seen as a barrier to entry for new companies and limited competition. By removing this requirement, the government hopes to encourage greater competition in the market, leading to better services and lower prices for consumers.

“The IRR released by NEDA provides guidance on how the amendments to the PSA will be implemented. For example, the IRR clarifies the process for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN), which is required for companies operating public services. The IRR also establishes a new regulatory framework for public utilities, which includes the creation of a regulatory body to oversee the industry.

“Overall, the release of the IRR is a significant step in the implementation of the amendments to the PSA. By providing clear guidance on how the amendments will be implemented, the IRR is expected to facilitate a smoother transition for businesses and consumers. The amendments are also expected to have a positive impact on the Philippine economy, by encouraging greater competition and investment in public services.”

Pretty good summary or background material delivered in seconds. But nothing about the reactions of those potentially affected, and nothing from NEDA on their positive expectations in dollars and cents over the next five years or so, or the new PSA’s impact on the urgency of constitutional amendments to remove restrictive economic provisions.

So… no. The jobs of real journalists are not threatened. But journalists must constantly upgrade their skills to keep up with the demands of the Age of Artificial Intelligence.

Boo Chanco’s email address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco