State of journalism survey 2024 shows scribes not using AI

• Survey shows 60% of journalists interviewed indicate that their newsroom lacks an AI use case policy.
• However, 20% of journalists revealed that they are planning to explore AI’s potential applications.
• State of Journalism Survey 2024 interviewed 1,106 respondents  across the world.

Media houses are still lagging behind in the push for AI adoption in their line of work with a majority failing to institute AI policies in newsrooms. This is according to a recent survey conducted by Muck Rack delving into the current landscape of journalism, revealing notable trends and concerns among journalists across the industry.

From the findings, 60 per cent of the surveyed journalists indicated that their newsroom lacks an AI use case policy, while only 24 per cent reported having one in place.

This raises questions about whether the absence of policies hinders journalists from exploring AI tools or if other factors, such as a lack of interest or different priorities, contribute to the delay in policy creation.

“About 28 per cent of journalists’ report using the technology and another 20 per cent plan to explore its uses. Compared to their PR counterparts, journalists are much less likely to be using gen AI,” the report says in part.

Another 20 per cent of journalists revealed that they are planning to explore its potential applications. This contrasts with findings from the PR industry, where a majority of professionals are already leveraging generative AI tools.

Of the journalists already using or planning to explore the technology, most said they want to use it for tasks like brainstorming and research assistance.

Writing any public-facing copy is a less popular use case. The other category includes many ideas like proofreading copy, transcribing meetings and to helping with data analysis.

The State of AI in Public Relations (PR) report showed 64 per cent of PR practitioners are already using the technology.

Journalists were however about six times more likely to say they don’t plan to explore generative AI compared to those in PR.

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State of Journalism Survey 2024

The report further revealed that financial concerns remain a top issue for journalists, with approximately one-third expressing worry about “lack of funding” and “trust in journalism.

These concerns echo similar sentiments from previous surveys, highlighting ongoing challenges in sustaining journalism in today’s media landscape.

The survey also highlighted changes in work arrangements, with a majority of journalists expressing a preference for hybrid work setups.

“More than half of journalists (51 per cent) say they only want to go into the office sometimes and only 17 per cent say they want to be there full time. 32 per cent want to fully work remote,” the report says.

However, many find themselves constrained to traditional office environments, reflecting a disparity between desired and actual work arrangements.

In terms of workload and compensation, the survey revealed significant variations among journalists.

While some journalists work long hours, with 64 per cent reporting more than 40 hours per week, others face layoffs or buyouts at their organizations, contributing to concerns about job security and financial stability.

Overall, the State of Journalism 2024 Survey provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing journalists today, from AI integration to work conditions and financial sustainability.

The report says as the industry continues to evolve, addressing these issues will be crucial for shaping the future of journalism.

With 1,106 respondents participating in the self-administered online survey, the findings shed light on the state of AI policies, financial challenges, work arrangements, and the use of generative AI among journalists.

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