Is AI a legitimate tool for freelance journalists?
And a podcast episode on social media management
A few weeks ago, we warned about AI-generated quotes, after which some of you got in touch to say you’d had the same experience. Newsrooms are making more use of artificial intelligence but after Sports Illustrated hit the headlines for publishing articles with AI-generated journalists with fake biographies, we can forgive journalists for being risk averse when tinkering with the technology. But could those fears be keeping you from a more efficient writing process? This week we take a look at some of the ways you might helpfully use AI as a freelance journalist.
Research
For George Buid, freelance journalist and photographer, “the beauty of [generative] AI is it shortens the research process.” After trying multiple tools, he now favours Google's Gemini because it retrieves results from Google's search engine, unlike some other free tools that lack access to real-time information. George notes, “Of course, there are things that can't be found on the internet that is why old fashioned investigation is still needed.”
Generating ideas
Before exploring generative AI, freelancer Wing See Li was experiencing a long case of writer’s block. After trialling ChatGPT to write a cover letter for a job, she started using it as “a sort of guide to get inspiration from” which helped her with writing fanfiction and articles. But she would never rely on it solely given it can sometimes produce inaccurate information and can never fully capture her opinions and feelings. GenAI tools can be trained to write content in your style, but it still has a long way to go as we noticed when we used it for our newsletter.
Pitching
Trying to find the right words to engage an editor can be anxiety-inducing, spending ample time crafting the perfect email only to get a rejection or even worse no response at all. You can prompt GenAI tools to use your own pitch and then tailor it to fit pitching guidelines, word counts, and even change the tone. Think of it as a template to work from.
Editing
Are you dyslexic and looking for support to edit your writing? Or perhaps you are based in the UK but need to use American English for an article. AI can help you with that as well. This does not mean your work ends where GenAI output does. It can be tempting to take content created by GenAI at face value, but this is critical misuse. “Everytime I use [it], I look for what's wrong with the output,” says George. “You still need the writing skills and knowledge.”
It is important to note that some publications have guidelines explicitly prohibiting the use of AI-generated content and Wing See recalls one medium expelling writers found guilty of using generative AI. The New York Times sent a memo to staff restricting the use of generative AI without approval as they would be inputting intellectual property in public tools. As Roxanne Gay wrote recently in the New York Times piece, AI Work Isn’t Yours, and if you are marketing GenAI as purely your own work you could be falling foul of ethical and legal guidelines. This legal grey area should make journalists think twice about including confidential information in GenAI models.
Overall, George and Wing See both have neutral feelings towards GenAI. “AI is a tool, like any other tools it still needs human intervention to work,” notes George. NBCU Academy agrees and has recommendations for how AI can help journalism. AI tools have been used for transcribing interviews and captioning photos, and the proliferation of its influence shows no signs of slowing down. Why not explore its uses for your own writing process and make your own judgment.
Are there any ways you have used AI to help you as a writer? Join the conversation on our Facebook page or comment below.
Latest podcast episode
Ever wondered what social media management actually is? On the podcast this week we talk to two freelance journalists who also work in social media marketing and SEO writing. Nicole Letts is a lifestyle journalist based in Atlanta who works with clients on Instagram and Britt Jones is a UK freelancer who provides bespoke social media services.
Find us in your usual podcast place or click below.
What’s coming up
Our four-week online course in partnership with Journalism.co.uk is starting again on the 22nd April. If you are new to freelance journalism or want to boost your work and get lots of feedback, support and guidance as you go, this may be just what you’re looking for. Kickstart your freelance journalism career is one of the most reasonably priced courses out there and previous attendees have achieved commissions on the back of pitches they worked with us on in the Guardian, Metro, Runner’s World and EuroNews to name but a few.
To find out more and grab your place for April, click the button below. We should stress this can all be done in your own time, assignments are voluntary and the course also now includes live Q&A sessions.
Spring sale!
SPRING SALE! All of our freelancing guides and video tutorials have 30% off. Pick up a guide to pitching for just £3.50, or a video tutorial on TikTok for Journalists for just £7. Find out more about our full range of resources by clicking below.
Triumph of the week
Just getting through the Easter school holidays in one piece
That feeling when
Everyone you need for a story is also on holiday
We love to hear your feedback on everything we do, so feel free to drop us an email anytime at freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com
Bye for now!
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Generally speaking I am against AI as a replacement for human writers. What I have been using LLMs (Gemini) for is to brainstorm ideas, treating AI like an over-enthusiastic intern who wants to get involved but whose ideas may get completely discarded! As you said in your article it's more of a conversation starter when you feel stuck.