International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)

After a week of speaking at four back-to-back conferences, including the Online News Association conference, I’m still processing all the conversations I had with journalists about AI. Meeting so many Newsroom Robots fans has been such a highlight. But what really stuck with me from this conference were the conversations I had that revealed just how wide the gaps in AI adoption are within newsrooms. One stat from my generative AI training really hit home: more than 20% of attendees had never used a tool like ChatGPT. That’s a problem. While I usually work with newsroom executives and AI leaders, ONA gave me the chance to hear directly from journalists on the ground about how AI is being adopted. And what I heard was both revealing and sobering. Here are my thoughts on what we as an industry need to focus on: 1️⃣ AI Literacy Must Be a Priority AI literacy isn’t just for tech reporters or product teams—it must be a priority for everyone in the newsroom. First, it’s essential for holding companies, governments, and lawmakers accountable. AI affects every beat, and without understanding it, we can’t effectively report on its impact. Our audience relies on us to get this right—without understanding the technology, we’re not doing our job. Second, I’ve seen how AI integration transforms workflows. Prioritizing AI training leads to significant improvements in efficiency and reporting quality. AI literacy isn’t optional—it’s crucial for both accountability and advancing journalism. 2️⃣ AI Ethics Policies Are Critically Lacking Many people I spoke to at ONA expressed uncertainty about AI’s ethical implications, primarily because their newsrooms lack clear guidance. This is a dangerous blind spot. AI is already being used by people in your newsroom, and without firm ethics policies, we’re leaving ourselves vulnerable to missteps. Newsrooms must set transparent guidelines on how AI should be used in reporting to maintain editorial integrity and public trust. 3️⃣ Collaboration Between AI Teams and Journalists Is Essential One of the recurring issues I heard is the disconnect between AI teams and the journalists who need to use these tools. AI teams are often siloed, creating solutions without input from the people who will ultimately rely on them. This is a missed opportunity. I’ve seen success in newsrooms where AI teams and journalists collaborate closely—when journalists are involved from the start, AI tools can be designed to meet their specific needs, leading to more effective implementation and greater impact. As I prepare to keynote at Media Party this week, one thing is clear: We need to step up our approach to AI adoption now. It’s been nearly 2 years since ChatGPT, and newsrooms can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines. Journalists must get hands-on with AI, robust ethical frameworks need to be established, and AI teams must collaborate closely with editorial staff. The future of journalism depends on how quickly we close these gaps.