Will AI replace News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists?
AI can do 81% of the work News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 4 of their 30 tasks, while 21 more are ready but barely used so far. Robots can technically handle 1 physical task. 4 still need a person.
AI is already doing this4 · 12% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats.Mostly automated4% of time
- Revise work to meet editorial approval or to fit time or space requirements.Mostly automated4% of time
- Analyze and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information.Mostly automated2% of time
- Check reference materials, such as books, news files, or public records, to obtain relevant facts.Mostly automated2% of time
AI could do this next21 · 69% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Gather information and develop perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience.10% of time
- Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.7% of time
- Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information.6% of time
- Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.5% of time
- Investigate breaking news developments, such as disasters, crimes, or human-interest stories.4% of time
- Report on specialized fields such as medicine, green technology, environmental issues, science, politics, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.4% of time
- Discuss issues with editors to establish priorities or positions.4% of time
- Write columns, editorials, commentaries, or reviews that interpret events or offer opinions.4% of time
- Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.2% of time
- Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.2% of time
- Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story.2% of time
- Review and evaluate notes taken about news events to isolate pertinent facts and details.2% of time
- Review written, audio, or video copy, and correct errors in content, grammar, or punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.2% of time
- Present live or recorded commentary via broadcast media.2% of time
- Develop ideas or material for columns or commentaries by analyzing and interpreting news, current issues, or personal experiences.2% of time
- Communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, or the general public via mail, email, or telephone.2% of time
- Write online blog entries that address news developments or offer additional information, opinions, or commentary on news events.2% of time
- Determine a published or broadcasted story's emphasis, length, and format, organizing material accordingly.1% of time
- Take pictures or video, and process them for inclusion in a story.1% of time
- Conduct taped or filmed interviews or narratives.1% of time
- Assign stories to other reporters or duties to production staff.1% of time
Robots can technically do this1 · 2% of time
Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.
- Photograph or videotape news events.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time
Still needs a person4 · 17% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Report news stories for publication or broadcast, describing the background and details of events.8% of time
- Present news stories, and introduce in-depth videotaped segments or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters.4% of time
- Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.4% of time
- Transmit news stories or reporting information from remote locations, using equipment such as satellite phones, telephones, fax machines, or modems.1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. Real use is still behind at 11 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.
What to do next
- Do the 4 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 21 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Keep an eye on the 1 physical task robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
- Build on the 4 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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