Newsletters Are Helping Journalists Navigate A World Changed by AI

Many journalists may be feeling divisive about artificial intelligence. On one hand, they may be eager to dive into the endless stream of information, wanting to grasp everything about AI. But on the other hand, they may also have an urge to escape all the buzz and never even hear the term “ChatGPT” again. 

There is much online discourse around how AI will either revolutionize or destroy journalism and that adds up to a vast amount of information for journalists to sort through. The content is often either overly complex, endlessly repetitive, or simply unhelpful. It can be difficult to find information that strikes the right balance of being concise, clear, and genuinely useful.

AI’s role in journalism is still very much evolving and very few people can call themselves true experts on the topic. Even so, there are a select few voices showing up amidst the clutter that offer thoughtful perspectives in the form of newsletters. These writers are providing a much-needed service by exploring the implications of AI on journalism with insight, skepticism, and nuance. Thankfully, many of the newsletters are free, though some have paid upgrades or other options.

Generative AI in the Newsroom

Generative AI has quite an effect on newsrooms already, influencing how information is distributed, produced, and consumed. Properly leveraging and understanding GenAI can provide journalists with a competitive edge because media plays an important role in shaping public perception and brand reputation. Launched at Northwestern University in January 2023, this newsletter explores the impact of GenAI on the news industry as well as the challenges and opportunities that it presents. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the rise of GenAI in today’s newsroom and what it means for the future of journalism.

Wonder Tools

Wonder Tools is a newsletter that aims to introduce readers to useful new apps, sites, and services. Brief insights are provided about services such as Coda, Notion, Pitch, and Descript—and other AI tools continue to be added to that list. A concise explanation is given of how useful the tools are and how to best use them with examples provided. Jeremy Caplan, part of New York’s CUNY system, shares clarity on these tools and hacks every week.

How News Publishers Are Using AI

This newsletter launched only last month but it would benefit journalists to become early subscribers. The newsletter’s objective is to break down how news organizations are leveraging generative AI to streamline workflows and develop consumer-facing products. Subjects covered in the newsletter include topics such as current best practices for news publishers, and the future of GenAI in media, which these same publishers approach with both excitement and fear. It includes the different ways news media companies are using GenAI in two categories – improving workflows for efficiency and creating consumer-facing products.

Not a Bot

Not a Bot is a daily newsletter written about AI, but not by AI. It has brought in more than 50,000 subscribers and is a free news source that entirely puts the focus on AI from a human perspective. The newsletter keeps users up to date with the latest information on AI, helping them stay informed about current market developments. With such a barrage of information about AI currently, the newsletter helps subscribers pinpoint what they should be paying attention to. It is necessary to understand the AI movement as it becomes a more integrated part of everyday life.

These are just a few of dozens of newsletters that can help journalists find reliable and thoughtful insights on AI when the conversation around it feels too overwhelming. While the field is still emerging, well-curated newsletters are a refreshing way to cut through the noise.