As digital companies and startups like Google and OpenAI develop tools to summarize material and steal visitors from news websites, newsrooms worldwide are grappling with generative artificial intelligence.
The survey found that 52% of U.S. and 63% of UK respondents would be uneasy with AI-generated news. A survey of 2,000 people in each country found that respondents were more comfortable with behind-the-scenes AI to improve journalist efficiency.
“It was surprising to see the level of suspicion,” said Reuters Institute senior research associate Nic Newman, Digital News Report lead author. 59% of survey respondents expressed concern about online fake news content, up three percentage points from last year. As both South Africa and the U.S. hold elections this year, the report showed 81% and 72% were higher.
Audience reluctance to pay for news subscriptions is another issue for news organizations.
Due to trials or specials, 46% of U.S. news subscribers paid less than full price.
Switching to alternatives
Online platforms like TikTok are relying more on news influencers than established media.
Over 5,600 TikTok users who used the app for news were surveyed. 57% stated they mostly followed personalities, while 34% followed journalists or news companies.
Newman said the findings demonstrate that newsrooms must create direct relationships with their consumers and “strategically use the platforms to connect with people who are trickier to reach, like younger audiences.
We see that these influencers have a bigger role on the platforms.”
One news personality named by poll respondents was TikTok inventor Vitus “V” Spehar, who has 3.1 million followers.
The Digital News Report asked Americans, Brits, French, Argentines, and Brazilians to name three mainstream or alternative news accounts.
According to the report, respondents’ top 10 U.S. sources are known for political opinion rather than original newsgathering. These included Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News anchor, Joe Rogan, Spotify’s top podcast host, and progressive talk radio presenter David Pakman.
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