Agnes Stenbom: Reimagining News Through the Eyes of Gen Z
Nov 27, 2024
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Agnes Stenbom, Sweden’s AI Person of the Year and Head of IN/LAB at Schibsted Media, discusses innovative approaches to journalism. She talks about transforming news into rap music to engage younger audiences and leveraging AI for personalized news experiences. Stenbom shares insights on ethical AI use and the challenges of fostering newsroom culture to embrace technology. She also emphasizes the importance of inclusion and collaboration in reshaping journalistic practices across the Nordic region.
Agnes Stenbom emphasizes the innovative use of AI in journalism to engage younger audiences through interactive and personalized news formats.
The importance of fostering trust in journalism is highlighted through inclusive initiatives that actively involve underrepresented communities in the news process.
Deep dives
Innovative Approaches to News Consumption
A key insight from the episode is the exploration of innovative ways to address news avoidance, particularly among younger audiences. The discussion highlights the importance of engaging with news outsiders to understand their pain points and how traditional news formats often fail to resonate with them. For example, concepts such as transforming written articles into rap music were mentioned, aiming to create more engaging and relatable content. By experimenting with different formats, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between journalism and audiences that currently feel disconnected from news.
AI's Role in Shaping Future Journalism
The integration of artificial intelligence in journalism is positioned as a transformative force, impacting both product development and newsroom processes. AI can enhance user interactivity and personalization, thereby improving the relevance of news content. Furthermore, AI-driven tools can support journalists in their workflows by providing functionalities like automated summaries or feedback on their writing. This dual focus on products and processes illustrates how AI can not only change what news looks like but also how it is created and delivered.
Building Trust and Inclusivity in Newsrooms
The episode discusses the importance of fostering trust within journalism through initiatives aimed at inclusivity and co-creation. By forming units like the Inclusion Lab, media organizations can actively involve underrepresented communities in the news creation process, which can lead to innovative products tailored to diverse audiences. The focus on engaging society in conversations about journalism emphasizes the responsibility journalists have to ensure their work resonates and is accessible to all. This approach also aims to address feelings of mistrust and avoidance among certain demographics.
Addressing AI Risks in Journalism
The conversation highlights the need for a robust framework to assess and mitigate risks associated with AI in journalism. Shipstead has implemented a risk assessment framework focusing on fairness, accountability, sustainability, and transparency to guide their AI initiatives. The emphasis on understanding the technology behind AI tools is crucial to ensuring that media organizations can navigate ethical dilemmas and uphold their standards. Through open discussions about potential pitfalls, newsrooms can better prepare for the rapid advancements in AI while maintaining journalistic integrity.
Agnes Stenbom, Sweden’s AI Person of the Year and Head of IN/LAB and Trust Initiatives at Schibsted Media, joins host Nikita Roy to discuss how one of the Nordic region’s largest media groups is innovating with AI to reach underrepresented audiences and build trust in journalism. Stenbom is also an industry doctoral candidate researching AI in journalism and a co-founder of Nordic AI Journalism, a network advocating for the responsible use of AI in journalism across the Nordic region.
In this episode, Stenbom highlights how Schibsted is leveraging AI to tackle news avoidance, experimenting with interactive formats, and navigating the challenges of responsible AI adoption in newsrooms.
Key topics include:
Using generative AI to create personalized, engaging formats such as rap-style news summaries
Designing AI tools for audience interactivity, including news concierges and custom avatars
Schibsted’s FAST framework for managing AI risks in fairness, accountability, sustainability, and transparency
Ethical dilemmas and risk mitigation in using generative AI for journalism
Insights on fostering newsroom culture to embrace technological innovation