It was to be feared. Artificial intelligence has made its entrance into the editorial offices of daily newspapers, with the risk, little by little, of seeing the work of journalists replaced by that of “intelligent” robots. The regional press group Ebra actually intends to use artificial intelligence to edit the papers of its regional press, deplores the National Union of Journalists in a press release published Tuesday October 24. For the general director of The Republican East and of Vosges morningthe first titles concerned are “a major opportunity, a modernization that it would be illusory to despise, to deny“.”We will relieve editorial secretaries (SR) of time-consuming tasks“, adds Christophe Mahieu.
“This East Republican-Vosges morning (ERV) initiative aims to serve as a beacon. AI is there, it exists, they are incredible tools. It seems important to us, within a defined scope, to be able to start using it, practicing it… This is the best way to test its impact. Put one foot in to be ready to act as best as possible“, he warns. The correspondents’ texts will serve as a test”to then determine what the right process is“. It is “the recovery of content made by humans, sourced. Nothing will be published without human proofreading. We want to give publishers the means to rely on the power of AI and allow them to focus on value-added missions such as information hierarchy, choice of photo, title, CLP management.“. And if the results are conclusive, the process will be extended and deployed.
The planned death of editorial secretaries (SR)?
“The SR retains the freedom to determine whether the summary is good or not, to retouch it, to regenerate it, to choose its own title“, reassures the editor-in-chief, Sébastien Georges. “In this process, the choice, the hierarchy of information, the first and last proofreading as well as the final validation for publication will remain the responsibility of the journalists of our editorial staff.“, declared the director and the editor-in-chief at Figaro.
The question of the use of generative AI will be included on the agenda of the group’s next CSE which will take place on Thursday October 26, for an information-consultation of elected officials.
The SNJ intends not to let “the keys to information from computers. The charters relating to journalistic deontology and ethics are not obsolete. They must impose themselves on the AI, it is non-negotiable! This must be the subject of a consensus, an agreement including precautions for use and white lines not to be crossed.“.
Sources: SNJ, Le Figaro