Martin Schori is the Deputy Managing Editor and Associate Publisher at Aftonbladet, Sweden’s largest newspaper. He discusses Aftonbladet’s cutting-edge AI hub, which has transformed editorial workflows and enhanced reader engagement through initiatives like an EU election chatbot. Schori shares insights on analyzing gender representation in news coverage using AI and tackles the ethical challenges of integrating technology into journalism. His experience highlights the pivotal role of AI in evolving storytelling and audience interaction.
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Quick takeaways
Aftonbladet's AI hub fosters innovation by developing tools like a chatbot for the EU elections, engaging voters and demonstrating public interest.
Maintaining editorial control is crucial as Aftonbladet navigates AI implementation challenges while emphasizing training and audience engagement features.
Deep dives
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The Development of Afton Bladet's AI Hub
Afton Bladet, Scandinavia's largest newspaper, has initiated an AI Hub to enhance its reporting capabilities through artificial intelligence. The hub was established to facilitate experimentation with AI tools, allowing editorial staff to engage directly with technology to improve journalism practices. By prioritizing an editorial staff majority within the hub, the initiative seeks to maintain credibility and integration of AI in everyday journalism. Training programs, such as courses on AI literacy, aim to enhance the newsroom's understanding and use of AI effectively in their reporting.
Insights from the Election Chatbot
Afton Bladet launched a chatbot during the EU elections designed to provide voters with information about the election process and party positions. Despite initial skepticism about audience engagement, the chatbot received approximately 18,000 questions on its first day, indicating a high level of public interest. The team utilized a meticulous approach to ensure accurate information was delivered, incorporating data from various reliable sources and maintaining a neutral tone. This initiative not only showcased the potential of AI in journalism but also highlighted the importance of user feedback in refining such tools.
Challenges and Future Directions for AI in Journalism
The implementation of AI in newsrooms has faced challenges, such as the limitations in automating certain journalistic tasks and the balance between technology and editorial control. Afton Bladet has found tools like transcription and data analysis to be beneficial but has acknowledged that the anticipated time savings have not always materialized. Furthermore, the newsroom is shifting focus from purely editorial AI tools to exploring audience engagement features, such as text-to-speech applications and improved content personalization. As the landscape of AI continues to evolve, the emphasis will be on experimenting and adapting these technologies to better meet the needs of journalists and their audiences.
Martin Schori, Deputy Managing Editor and Associate Publisher at Aftonbladet, joins host Nikita Roy to discuss how Sweden’s largest newsroom built an AI hub, developing a wide range of innovative editorial tools, including a suite of AI-powered tools for the newsroom and a chatbot for the EU elections. As the Program Lead for the AI Hub, Schori shares the biggest wins, challenges, and key lessons from their experiments with AI in journalism.
Key topics include:
- The creation of Aftonbladet’s AI hub and its impact on editorial workflows
- How Aftonbladet used AI to engage readers with an EU election chatbot
- Analyzing coverage using AI to track gender and diversity representation
- Ethical considerations and maintaining editorial control with AI tools
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