by Stephanie Otty, Director
What’s the Difference Between AI and Journalism?
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ll know that AI is everywhere now and it’s impressive. It can write headlines, summarise data, even mimic a human voice. But as the co-founder of an international news organisation that delivers hourly bulletins to listeners around the world, I believe something needs to be said, loud and clear - AI should never replace journalists, and I don’t believe it ever truly will.
I would say that wouldn’t I? Let me explain … (I’m writing this myself by the way).
AI for research
I am in favour of using technology to help us work smarter and AI is a powerful tool for broad, surface-level research. Its ability to answer questions quickly by scraping from the world’s content is a real time-saver.
What it doesn’t do is provide sources for its results. And it makes errors. Accuracy is non-negotiable for a serious and respected news provider, so AI can only take us so far in our research as journalists.
Journalism for judgement, sensitivity, tone and accountability
We’re entering an era where trust in media is more important than ever. At Radio News Hub, we are proud to be a trusted news source and that trust is built on impartiality, balance, and human connection. These aren’t optional extras. They’re the foundations of good journalism. Our team make judgement calls every minute of the day. They decide what leads a bulletin, how to phrase a sensitive story, and which angle reflects the facts without bias. They navigate breaking news with cool heads and calm precision.
AI can analyse data, but it doesn’t understand context. It can repeat what’s already known, but it can’t sense what’s missing. It doesn’t know when to ask a better question, or when silence might reveal more than a soundbite. It can’t build rapport with a guest in an interview that draws out something real and revealing, it’s certainly no Emily Maitlis meets Prince Andrew! (That reference won’t land with everyone, but I think it makes the point.)
Journalists know that tone matters. They understand that the same set of facts can land very differently depending on how they’re delivered, this is especially true in audio. A journalist can use empathy and instinct to choose the right words, the right pace, the right feel. That ability to connect with people, to feel what the story needs, is where journalism becomes more than a job, it becomes a public service.
There’s something else AI can’t offer: accountability. Journalists are trained to challenge, to verify, to take responsibility for what they say on air. They work within an ethical framework. If something goes wrong, they’re answerable.
Generative AI
So at Radio News Hub we don’t use generative AI to create our news output. The quality of our product – traditional, trusted journalism - relies on human characteristics that AI doesn’t possess. And it’s easy to spot bland AI-generated copy, we’ve all done it.
AI can without a doubt support journalism, but let’s not forget what makes journalism powerful in the first place, the people behind it, the listeners who rely on it, and the responsibility we carry when we tell someone’s story.
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