Once the significance of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism is acknowledged, the future of the profession largely depends on how its key actors organize to address its effects. Based on 21 semi-structured interviews with executives, technicians, and journalists from eight leading UK media outlets, this article examines organizational changes (such as interdisciplinary work groups and training programs), differing reactions among professional profiles, internally developed AI projects, and the use of generative AI tools. The findings reveal uneven levels of development across these areas, influenced mainly by prior experience and the relationship with AI technology. Professionals with more technical or data-oriented roles tend to adopt AI more readily, while others express caution or skepticism. At the organizational level, long-term strategies and early investment emerge as key factors differentiating advanced implementations from more exploratory approaches. The research also reflects that half of the media outlets analyzed are implementing their own AI developments, and that most professionals are using tools based on this technology in some way. Understanding and critically analyzing these dynamics is essential to ensure that the profound industrial transformation underway benefits both the sustainability and integrity of the sector.
AhmadN.HaqueS.IbahrineM. (2023). The news ecosystem in the age of AI: Evidence from the UAE. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 67(3), 323–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2023.2173197
2.
AleessawiN.AlzubiS. (2024). The implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on the quality of media content. Studies in Media and Communication, 12(4), 41–51. https://doi.org/10.11114/smc.v12i4.7058
BorchardtA. (2022). Go, robots, go! The value and challenges of artificial intelligence for local journalism. Digital Journalism, 10(10), 1919–1924. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2149584
7.
BroussardM. (2019). Artificial unintelligence: How computers misunderstand the world. Boston, The MIT Press.
8.
CarabantesD.González-GeraldoJ. L.JoverG. (2023). ChatGPT could be the reviewer of your next scientific paper. Evidence on the limits of AI-assisted academic reviews. Profesional de La Informacion, 32(5). https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2023.sep.16
9.
CaswellD.DörrK. (2018). Automated journalism 2.0: Event-driven narratives: From simple descriptions to real stories. Journalism Practice, 12(4), 477–496. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2017.1320773
10.
ChristinA. (2017). Algorithms in practice: Comparing web journalism and criminal justice. Big Data & Society, 4(2), 205395171771885. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951717718855
11.
CodinaL.Ufarte-RuizM. J.BordenS. L. (2024). Fanning the flames of artificial intelligence in the media: Beyond efficiency and productivity gains. Communication & Society, 37(2), 221–225. https://doi.org/10.15581/003.37.2.221-225
12.
CoolsH.DiakopoulosN. (2023). Towards Guidelines for Guidelines on the Use of Generative AI in Newsrooms. Generative AI in the Newsroom, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2024.2394558
13.
CoolsH.DiakopoulosN. (2024). Uses of generative AI in the newsroom: Mapping journalists’ perceptions of perils and possibilities. Journalism Practice, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2024.2394558
14.
De HaanY.van den BergE.GoutierN.KruikemeierS.LechelerS. (2022). Invisible friend or foe?How journalists use and perceive algorithmic-driven tools in their research process. Digital Journalism, 10(10), 1775–1793. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2027798
15.
DenisovaA. (2022). Viral journalism. Strategy, tactics and limitations of the fast spread of content on social media: Case study of the United Kingdom quality publications. Journalism, 24(9). https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849221077749
16.
DeuzeM.BeckettC. (2022). Imagination, algorithms and news: Developing AI literacy for journalism. Digital Journalism, 10(10), 1913–1918. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2119152
17.
DeVernaM. R.YanH. Y.YangK. C.MenczerF. (2023). Fact-checking information generated by a large language model can decrease news discernment. Arxiv. http://arxiv.org/abs/2308.10800
DwivediY. K.KshetriN.HughesL.SladeE. L.JeyarajA.KarA. K.BaabdullahA. M.KoohangA.RaghavanV.AhujaM.AlbannaH.AlbashrawiM. A.Al-BusaidiA. S.BalakrishnanJ.BarletteY.BasuS.BoseI.BrooksL.BuhalisD.,… WrightR. (2023). “So what if ChatGPT wrote it?” Multidisciplinary perspectives on opportunities, challenges and implications of generative conversational AI for research, practice and policy. International Journal of Information Management, 71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2023.102642
20.
FelleT. (2016). Digital watchdogs? Data reporting and the news media’s traditional “fourth estate” function. Journalism, 17(1), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.1177/1464884915593246
García-AvilésJ. A.Carvajal PrietoM.Arias RoblesF. (2018). Implementation of innovation in Spanish digital media: Analysis of journalists’ perceptions. Revista Latina de Comunicacion Social, 73, 369–384. https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2018-1260
Gutierrez LopezM.PorlezzaC.CooperG.MakriS.MacFarlaneA.MissaouiS. (2022). A question of design: Strategies for embedding AI-driven tools into journalistic work routines. Digital Journalism, 0(0), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2043759
25.
GuzmanA. L.LewisS. C. (2020). Artificial intelligence and communication: A human–machine communication research agenda. New Media and Society, 22(1), 70–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444819858691
26.
HaleemA.JavaidM.SinghR. P. (2022). An era of ChatGPT as a significant futuristic support tool: A study on features, abilities, and challenges. BenchCouncil Transactions on Benchmarks, Standards and Evaluations, 2(4), 100089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tbench.2023.100089
27.
HelbergerN.van DrunenM.MoellerJ.VrijenhoekS.EskensS. (2022). Towards a normative perspective on journalistic AI: Embracing the messy reality of normative ideals. In Digital journalism, 10, (10), pp. 1605–1626). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2152195
KellyS.KayeS. A.Oviedo-TrespalaciosO. (2023). What factors contribute to the acceptance of artificial intelligence? A systematic review. Telematics and Informatics, 77, 101925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2022.101925
30.
KimD.KimS. (2017). Newspaper companies’ determinants in adopting robot journalism. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 117, 184–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.12.002
31.
KoivulaM.LaaksonenS. M.VilliM. (2022). Practical, not radical: Examining innovative learning culture in a public service Media organization. Journalism Studies, 23(9), 1018–1036. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2022.2065339
32.
KuengL. (2017). Going digital: A roadmap for organisational transformation. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. https://doi.org/10.60625/risj-xce5-7e64
33.
LimJ. S.ZhangJ. (2022). Adoption of AI-driven personalization in digital news platforms: An integrative model of technology acceptance and perceived contingency. Technology in Society, 69, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.101965
34.
LindblomT.LindellJ.GidlundK. (2024). Digitalizing the journalistic field: Journalists’ views on changes in journalistic autonomy, capital and habitus. Digital Journalism, 12(6), 894–913. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2062406
MelitskiJ.GavinD.GavinJ. (2010). Technology adoption and organizational culture in public organizations. International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, 13, 546–568. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-13-04-2010-B005 https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-13-04-2010-B005
38.
MilosavljevićM.VobičI. (2019). Human still in the loop: Editors reconsider the ideals of professional journalism through automation. Digital Journalism, 7(8), 1098–1116. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2019.1601576
39.
MøllerL. A.van DalenA.SkovsgaardM. (2024). A little of that human touch: How regular journalists redefine their expertise in the face of artificial intelligence. Journalism Studies, 26(1), 84–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2024.2412212
40.
Montoro-MontarrosoA.Cantón-CorreaJ.RossoP.ChulviB.Panizo-LledotÁHuertas-TatoJ.Calvo-FiguerasB.RementeriaM. J.Gómez-RomeroJ. (2023). Fighting disinformation with artificial intelligence: fundamentals, advances and challenges. Profesional de La Informacion, 32(3). https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2023.may.22
41.
OpdahlA. L.TessemB.Dang-NguyenD. T.MottaE.SettyV.ThrondsenE.TverbergA.TrattnerC. (2023). Trustworthy journalism through AI. Data and Knowledge Engineering, 146, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.datak.2023.102182
42.
PavlikJ. V. (2023). Collaborating with ChatGPT: Considering the implications of generative artificial intelligence for journalism and Media education. Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, 78(1), 84–93. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776958221149577
43.
Peña-FernándezS.Meso-AyerdiK.Larrondo-UretaA.Díaz-NociJ. (2023). Without journalists, there is no journalism: the social dimension of generative artificial intelligence in the media. Profesional de La Informacion, 32(2). https://doi.org/10.3145/epi.2023.mar.27
44.
PorcuO.HermansL.BroersmaM. (2024). Creative autonomy in the newsroom: How hierarchy impacts innovative behaviour. Journalism Practice, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2024.2310056
45.
SchlichtkrullM.OusidhoumN.VlachosA. (2023). The Intended Uses of Automated Fact-Checking Artefacts: Why, How and Who. http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.14238
46.
SiitonenM.LaajalahtiA.VenäläinenP. (2023). Mapping automation in journalism studies 2010–2019: A literature review. Journalism Studies, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670x.2023.2296034
47.
SimonF. M. (2023). Escape me if you can: How AI reshapes news organisations’ dependency on platform companies. Digital Journalism, 12(2), 149–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2023.2287464
48.
SimonF. M. (2024). Artificial intelligence in the news how AI retools, rationalizes, and reshapes journalism and the public arena. New York, Columbia Journalism Review.
49.
Soto-SanfielM. T.IbitiA.MachadoM.Marín OchoaB. E.Mendoza MichilotM.Rosell ArceC. G.Angulo-BrunetA. (2022). In search of the global south: Assessing attitudes of Latin American journalists to artificial intelligence in journalism. Journalism Studies, 23(10), 1197–1224. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2022.2075786
Túñez-LópezJ.Fieiras-CeideC.Vaz-ÁlvarezM. (2021). Impact of artificial intelligence on journalism: Transformations in the company, products, contents and professional profile. Communication & Society, 34(1), 177–193. https://doi.org/10.15581/003.34.1.177-193
52.
UnoI. A.OtuO. D.Obaji-AkpetI. O.NwagbosoC. I.EjaT. R.AwubiE.UkumeG. D. (2024). Artificial intelligence and academic research: Understanding the potential and the threats to academic writing. Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 6(2), 33–52. https://iannajournalofinterdisciplinarystudies.com/index.php/1/article/view/282
53.
Van DalenA. (2024). Revisiting the algorithms behind the headlines. How journalists respond to professional competition of generative AI. Journalism Practice, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2024.2389209
54.
Vimos-BuenañoK. E.Viteri-OjedaJ. C.Naranjo-SánchezM. J.Novillo-HerediaK. H. (2024). Use of artificial intelligence in scientific research processes by university professors. Journal of Economic and Social Science Research, 4(4), 215–236. https://doi.org/10.55813/gaea/jessr/v4/n4/143
55.
WuX.XiaoL.SunY.ZhangJ.MaT.HeL. (2022). A survey of human-in-the-loop for machine learning. Future Generation Computer Systems, 135, 364–381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2022.05.014
56.
YuY.HuangK. (2021). Friend or foe? Human journalists’ perspectives on artificial intelligence in Chinese media outlets. Chinese Journal of Communication, 14, 409–429. https://doi.org/10.1080/17544750.2021.1915832
57.
ZhaoP.ZhangH.YuQ.WangZ.GengY.FuF.YangL.ZhangW.JiangJ.CuiB. (2024). Retrieval-augmented generation for AI-generated content: A survey. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.19473
58.
ZhengY.ZhongB.YangF. (2018). When algorithms meet journalism: The user perception to automated news in a cross-cultural context. Computers in Human Behavior, 86, 266–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.04.046
