AI transforms journalism at world’s oldest newspaper

Berrow’s Worcester Journal, affiliated with the UK’s second-largest regional news publisher, has enlisted reporters assisted by AI, joining other papers in this endeavor

On October 7, 1779, a letter challenged a published narrative in Berrow’s Worcester Journal, asserting, “To the printer, I take the liberty of informing you and the public that the account of a melancholy accident happening to a poor man at Evesham which was inserted in your last paper is utterly devoid of foundation.”

The reported incident involving a man falling into a vat of boiling ale was, indeed, significantly embellished and relied on an anonymous tip. Presently, the journal, asserting itself as the world’s oldest surviving newspaper, introduces a cutting-edge approach to assist reporters in fact-checking beyond the newsroom: artificial intelligence.

Established in 1690 and currently a complimentary publication integrating content from the Worcester News, the journal is one of several publications within the UK’s second-largest regional news publisher to employ journalists assisted by artificial intelligence for local news coverage.

Newsquest, the publisher of over 200 titles, including the Glasgow Herald, the Brighton and Hove Argus, and the Lancashire Telegraph, has onboarded eight reporters with AI assistance in various newsrooms nationwide in the past year.

These AI reporters leverage an in-house copywriting tool based on ChatGPT technology, an advanced chatbot capable of extracting information from text on the internet. Reporters input routine yet crucial “trusted content,” such as minutes from a local council planning committee, and the tool transforms it into concise news reports adhering to the publisher’s style.

Managing routine content, the AI-assisted reporter allows other newsroom journalists to dedicate time to attend court sessions, interact with councillors, or cover local events like village fetes, as highlighted by Stephanie Preece, the editor of Worcester News.

AI cannot physically be present at a crash site, in court, or in a council meeting; it cannot visit a grieving family or assess someone’s honesty through eye contact. Stephanie states, “All it does is liberate reporters to engage more in these tasks.” Emphasizing the positive integration of AI, she adds, “Instead of avoiding or fearing it, we embrace AI as a permanent part of our toolkit—so how can we make the most of it?”

She underscores that Newsquest’s tool doesn’t autonomously generate content. Instead, a trained journalist inputs information into the tool, which is then reviewed and adjusted as necessary by a news editor. This approach is designed to avoid ChatGPT’s occasional inaccuracies.

In a recent conversation with the Press Gazette, Newsquest’s CEO, Henry Faure Walker, emphasized the substantial value introduced by the implementation of an AI-assisted role at the Hexham Courant in Northumberland in September. The town gained national attention when the Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall was vandalized.

“The AI system reporter could essentially manage the workload for the week, covering the paper. This allowed the other reporter to delve into truly impactful investigative work, create videos, and explore the story in depth, which would otherwise be challenging. We are proceeding cautiously,” he remarked.

Jody Doherty-Cove, the Head of Editorial AI at Newsquest, acknowledges concerns about AI in journalism but underscores the presence of multiple safeguards at Newsquest, including comprehensive training and a newly established code of conduct.

Notably, a journalist recently received the group’s inaugural response to a freedom of information request generated by AI, inquiring about expenses related to tea and biscuits provided at council meetings. While a reporter proposed the idea, the AI generated the letter and identified the appropriate email address for sending it.

Doherty-Cove envisions that the widespread and uncontroversial use of AI as a newsroom tool will become commonplace in the future. “In the future, the term AI-system reporter will be as obsolete as the term internet-assisted reporter sounds now,” he asserts. “The internet has assisted journalists in finding information and crafting more insightful stories, and AI offers those benefits as well.

In June, the Guardian outlined its principles for using generative AI, committing to employing the technology cautiously. Moreover, in September, the Guardian took a stance by prohibiting OpenAI from utilizing its content to power artificial intelligence products like ChatGPT.

This week, the New York Times initiated legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging an effort to exploit the Times’s substantial journalism investment by creating substitute products without permission or compensation. OpenAI responded with surprise and disappointment, emphasizing its commitment to respecting the rights of content creators and owners, especially after engaging in discussions with the Times.

Local journalists, facing challenges such as reduced numbers, overwhelming workloads, and insufficient compensation, can benefit from all available resources. Over the past year, Reach, the publisher overseeing titles like the Liverpool Echo, Manchester Evening News, Mirror, and Express, has undergone multiple rounds of painful layoffs, resulting in the loss of 800 positions.

Earlier this year, Reach sparked controversy by experimenting with AI for news article writing, even publishing pieces like “Seven Things to do in Newport.” Despite this, CEO Jim Mullen reassured journalists that job cuts were unrelated to AI, emphasizing that they need not fear being replaced by machines.

Despite these assurances, the decline in the number of reporters and local publications continues. According to data from the Charitable Journalism Project, there are likely fewer local newspapers in the UK than at any time since the 18th century. The long-standing decline has sharply accelerated, with over 320 local titles shutting down between 2009 and 2019 as advertising revenues plummeted by approximately 70%.

To avoid becoming another casualty in this trend, Berrow’s Worcester Journal must adhere to its tradition of adaptation, according to Editor Stephanie Preece. She acknowledges the transient nature of a newspaper editor’s role and stresses the importance of embracing change to navigate the evolving media landscape.