Six dos and don'ts for using AI in your reporting
An AI trainer shares her advice
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I started dabbling with generative AI a few years ago, driven by fear of being usurped by these unnervingly speedy machine brains.
Like many writers, I chucked a few prompts into ChatGPT and rolled my eyes at the results, while feeling a little unsettled. I got a glimpse of where this was going, but frankly, I wasn't impressed.
Now, I've found my AI sweet spot. I use these models for help with research, refining pitches, content strategy and editing. The process has enhanced my workflow, so alongside my journalism and copywriting, I'm training journalist and PR teams how to use this tech effectively too.
Meanwhile, the elements of my job that I consider my own, such as writing, critical thinking, and storytelling, remain in my hands.
Here are some of the dos and don'ts I've learnt along the way:
DO: Organise your research
It's easy to drown in dozens of open browser tabs when you're researching and writing a story. A simple ChatGPT hack to counter the overwhelm is to create chats for each story.
When I was covering the Budget, for example, I created a single chat where I asked AI to analyse the report, and flag anything I'd missed. Rather than ploughing through long reports, I could quickly find specific stats and ask for the page they’re on to double-check.
I also dedicate projects (in your ChatGPT sidebar) to different aspects of my work so I can tidy chats away. For example, I have one for article research and fact checking, and another for pitch improvements. You can add custom instructions and files to projects so the model knows what to focus on, whether it’s checking for jargon or coming up with ideas.
This approach also helps me keep track of work for different publications. When I'm switching between different forms of writing, I can more easily shift gears. Project chats share memory across conversations, so it’s easier to maintain consistency.
DO: Tap into advanced tools
Many of the biggest AI models such as ChatGPT and Perplexity offer something called ‘Deep Research’. This mind-blowing AI tool has transformed my work in recent weeks. If you pay for ChatGPT Plus, you get access to 10 Deep Research searches per month.
Instead of a quick summary, it acts like an investigative assistant, generating structured insights across dozens of sources.
It’ll break down topics into key questions and shows you its ‘thinking process’, covering every angle before delivering insights. It takes a bit of time but the results are worth it.
You can try Perplexity’s free research tool if you’d rather not pay for an AI model. It does a similar job with different results that’s worth experimenting with.
DO: Stretch your thinking
It’s important to use AI to stretch your thinking rather than do everything for you, though. So ask these models to flag gaps in your work that you might otherwise miss.
When brainstorming story ideas, for example, I asked Claude to generate unexpected perspectives and questions that might challenge conventional thinking on the topic.
This approach helps me to consider new angles. If you haven't tried Claude, I'd recommend this model specifically for brainstorming. It’s a creative powerhouse. I've found it particularly useful when I'm feeling stuck in a rut with a topic I've covered many times before.
DON’T: Offload your writing
While AI can help with research and ideation, I keep it at arm’s length when it comes to writing drafts. Doing so bypasses the skills I’ve developed over decades – and I’m not giving them up without a fight! Besides, AI writing often sounds flat, repetitive, and lacks nuance.
Most news teams I’ve trained take a similar approach, using AI for research but sticking to human writing. However, I sometimes ask for an outline of suggested sub-headings and bullet points to get started. If I’m stuck, I’ll ask for potential hooks too or additional information. When I’ve finished a piece, I often ask ChatGPT or Claude to scan for flow, typos, errors or inconsistencies.
DON'T: Skip fact-checking
Basically, these models are sophisticated pattern-predicting machines that can ‘hallucinate’. They want to give you an answer, even when they don’t know. So, they’ll sometimes confidently present incorrect information as truth.
I always cross-check statistics and other facts with reliable sources. ChatGPT’s ‘search’ function has reduced hallucinations, and it often cites government sources, but I still double-check.
DON'T: Replace real voices
One of the things that AI can’t do is add real human voices to your articles. No AI model can replicate the authenticity of real experiences, interview or personal stories.
I believe that in the age of AI this will become increasingly valuable for the real-world examples that these machines can’t provide. So always speak to industry experts and everyday people. After all, we’re writing for our readers so let’s keep talking to them too!
For more AI insights and tips, sign up to Harriet Meyer’s newsletter AI for Media. Harriet also offers tailored training sessions to help journalists and PR teams use AI responsibly and effectively. Each session is hands-on, and designed for your team’s specific needs.
This is the fifth article in a special series on AI and freelance journalism.
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Triumph of the week
Getting a ton of ideas for pitches at a conference
That feeling when
You have no time to actually pitch new ideas
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Bye for now!
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Seriously, you’re recommending using AI?? Apart from the fact that using Chat GPT for research and fact checking is asking for trouble. The environmental impact of AI is horrendous and these LLMs are being trained on stolen work, if you’re using it you’re saying that’s okay.