A Little of that Human Touch: How Regular Journalists Redefine Their Expertise in the Face of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

Recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence raise fundamental questions about its impact on the journalistic profession and the future role of journalists in news production. However, the attitudes of regular journalists towards artificial intelligence remain largely unexplored. We address this gap by investigating the potentials and concerns that Danish journalists attribute to the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism. Journalists largely acknowledge its potential to streamline news production. While they also express broader concerns about the trustworthiness of journalism and the risk of job displacement, their more immediate worry lies in the impact of artificial intelligence on job meaningfulness and professional identity. These findings reveal a differentiated perspective on the profession-wide and individual impacts of artificial intelligence on journalism. Furthermore, journalists emphasise their human qualities and skills such as nuanced judgement, empathy, and creativity as beyond artificial intelligence’s capabilities. This indicates that artificial intelligence prompts journalists to reshape their expertise to prioritise the human touch in journalism, suggesting a broadened view of the journalistic profession. By examining these perceptions among regular journalists, this study contributes to a better understanding of the multifaceted challenges that artificial intelligence poses to both individual journalistic practices and the broader profession.

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