This project explores the practical boundaries and possibilities of artificial intelligence in journalism. For this purpose we will build a newsroom that solely operates on artificial intelligence. We will simulate roles of editor-in-chief, news editor and reporter. In addition of computer program, project will provide recommendations on how to use artificial intelligence in newsrooms: what AI practically can do, what it cannot do, and what is not reasonable to be replaced by AI.
Project combines computing science and journalism studies with professor Pekka Abrahamsson and professor Laura Ahva at the lead. Project is funded by Media Industry Research Foundation of Finland. Project continues to the end of 2025, after which results will be published.
With an experimental approach, journalism team explores research practices to simulate journalistic work as a process. Goal is to interview 30 people from three different newsroom positions. These interviews examine work processes on very practical level: what was actually done and how these acts were justified. This way we will get access to tacit and circumstantial knowledge, such as ethical consideration, sourcing practises and news criteria.
Computer sciences team aims to build an automatic article writing program and a visual environment for managing AI automation. Article writing program gathers and analyses information from different Internet sources. Goal is to achieve other means of information gathering.
Project team:
Pekka Abrahamsson, professor of computer sciences
Laura Ahva, professor of journalism studies
Riku Laine, research assistant
Joni Honkanen, research assistant
Jaakko Suorsa, research assistant
Sami Dadu, consultant
Laura Saarikoski, consultant
Funding source
Media Industry Research Foundation of Finland
People
Laura Ahva
Professor, Journalistiikka
Laura Ahva