Experts Weigh In on AI's Role in Journalism

University of Miami School of Communication faculty discuss the benefits and ethical concerns of using artificial intelligence in news production.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:36pm

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As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent across industries, experts at the University of Miami School of Communication are exploring how this new technology can be leveraged responsibly in journalism. While AI can automate certain tasks like transcription, summarization, and even story drafting, faculty emphasize that it should be used as a tool to enhance, not replace, the core work of reporting, fact-checking, and editorial judgment.

Why it matters

The growing use of AI in news production raises important ethical questions around transparency, accountability, and the potential for AI-generated content to spread misinformation. Experts argue that news organizations must be upfront about their use of AI and have robust processes in place to ensure the accuracy and integrity of their reporting.

The details

About 9% of major newspapers already use AI to produce news content, with smaller publications adopting the technology even more extensively. Experts at the University of Miami School of Communication see AI as a useful tool that can automate tasks like transcription, summarization, and even story drafting, freeing up journalists to focus on higher-level reporting and editorial work. However, they caution that AI is not a replacement for human journalists and their relationship-driven work of earning trust with sources, digging for facts, and making sound editorial judgments.

  • The University of Miami School of Communication has established an AI task force to provide training and resources for faculty and students.
  • A one-day event open to the University community will be held on April 10 to explore the impact of AI on various communication fields.

The players

University of Miami School of Communication

An academic institution that is exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and journalism, including providing training and resources for faculty and students.

ChatGPT, Copilot, and Claude

AI chatbots that can assist journalists with tasks like transcription, summarization, and story drafting.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

A news organization that uses generative AI to draft news stories, with human editors reviewing the copy before publication.

The Associated Press, Business Insider, Bloomberg, and Yahoo News

News organizations that use AI in various ways to enhance their news coverage.

Treadwell

A faculty member at the University of Miami School of Communication who emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability when using AI in news production.

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What they’re saying

“Artificial intelligence is transforming our production and reception of news, accelerating the pace of distribution, amplifying the pronouncements of sensational content, and accentuating the potential for access.”

— Treadwell, Faculty member (miami.edu)

“I actually think that when used responsibly and ethically AI is extremely useful to journalists. Before AI came to our rescue, journalists spent an inordinate amount of time on tasks that were menial. Now AI can carry out these tasks, freeing us to do more important work, like on the ground reporting.”

— Treadwell, Faculty member (miami.edu)

“Chatbots can speed up drafting and summarizing, but they can't replace the relationship-driven work of reporting—earning trust with sources, digging for facts, and making editorial judgments.”

— Treadwell, Faculty member (miami.edu)

“Accountability is important in our business.”

— Treadwell, Faculty member (miami.edu)

What’s next

The University of Miami School of Communication will be hosting a one-day event on April 10 to further explore the impact of artificial intelligence on various communication fields.

The takeaway

While AI can be a valuable tool for journalists, automating certain tasks and enhancing news coverage, experts emphasize the importance of using it responsibly and ethically. News organizations must be transparent about their use of AI, have robust processes in place to ensure accuracy and integrity, and maintain the core human elements of reporting, fact-checking, and editorial judgment.