When Robots Write the News: A Guideline Based Interview Study on Opportunities and Risks of Using Artificial Intelligence in Political Reporting in Germany and the U.S.

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being implemented in journalism, possibly leading to various fundamental changes within the field. Especially the forerunner countries U.S. and Germany make use of the technologies in several sub-sectors of reporting. While pioneer-studies exploring said implementation have focused on audience, as well as practitioners’ perceptions of AI, a focus on the democratically crucial political journalism is lacking. Therefore, the given paper investigates how those working in the journalistic field in Germany and the U.S. evaluate AI-usage in political reporting. Scopes, contexts, and opportunities, as well as risks of the technologies are considered. Eleven interviews with experts from leading news organizations were conducted and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis, focusing on comparisons between the two countries. Results show varying strategies of AI implementation within the two countries, with election coverage being the predominant political topic reported on with the help of AI. Furthermore, the findings show that AI could possibly free journalists from routine tasks, and allows for more in-depth and large-scale research, which in turn could lead to an increase in the qualitative standard of political journalism. However, journalists also point towards ethical and economic concerns. Considering the results, directions for future research and the practice of journalism are discussed.