Journalism Schools Lag in Teaching AI, a Crucial Skill for Modern Reporting

Editor says AI frees up reporters for fieldwork and enables more efficient news gathering, but many students are told AI is "bad" by professors

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The editor of a local news organization in Ohio writes that many journalism school graduates are ill-prepared for the modern newsroom, where artificial intelligence has become critical to operations. The editor recounts how a recent job applicant withdrew from consideration because they had been taught by professors that AI is "bad" for journalism, when in reality the editor's organization uses AI tools to free up reporters for more in-the-field reporting and enable more comprehensive local news coverage. The editor argues that journalism programs are decades behind in preparing students for the realities of the modern media landscape, where AI is essential, and encourages prospective journalists to focus on developing broader skills like political science, technology, and understanding institutions rather than traditional journalism degrees.

Why it matters

As newsrooms increasingly rely on AI tools to streamline operations and free up reporters for more impactful fieldwork, journalism schools that fail to prepare students for this reality are putting their graduates at a significant disadvantage in the job market. This disconnect between academia and industry could exacerbate the challenges facing the journalism profession, which is already grappling with widespread layoffs and contractions.

The details

The editor recounts how a recent job applicant withdrew from consideration because they had been taught by professors that AI is "bad" for journalism. However, the editor's organization uses AI tools to help identify stories, draft initial article text, and free up reporters to spend more time gathering information in the field. This has allowed the organization to expand its local news coverage to additional counties in a cost-effective manner. The editor argues that removing writing tasks from reporters' workloads has effectively given them an extra day per week to conduct in-person interviews and develop deeper stories, resulting in more impactful local journalism that is resonating with readers.

  • Last year, the organization began covering Lorain, Lake and Geauga counties using AI tools.
  • This month, the organization expanded its AI-powered local news coverage to Medina County.
  • In May, the organization plans to add northern Summit County to its AI-assisted local news initiative.

The players

Chris Quinn

The editor of a local news organization in Ohio who is advocating for journalism schools to better prepare students for the realities of the modern media landscape, where AI has become a crucial tool.

Hannah Drown

A reporter at the editor's organization who has used AI tools to uncover a steady stream of compelling local news stories in Lorain County, helping to energize the local electorate.

Molly Walsh

A reporter at the editor's organization who has also used AI tools to expand local news coverage in Lorain, Lake and Geauga counties.

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What they’re saying

“We don't generally hire straight out of college. We lack the resources for heavy training, so we look for experienced journalists who can hit the ground running. This role, however, is different. It includes a free master's degree through online courses at Syracuse University. We will accept recent graduates.”

— Chris Quinn, Editor (cleveland.com)

“Artificial intelligence is not bad for newsrooms. It's the future of them. It already allows us to be faster, more thorough and more comprehensible. It frees time for what matters most: gathering facts and developing stories to serve you.”

— Chris Quinn, Editor (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The editor's organization plans to add northern Summit County to its AI-assisted local news initiative in May.

The takeaway

Journalism schools that fail to prepare students for the realities of the modern media landscape, where AI has become a crucial tool for streamlining operations and enabling more impactful reporting, are putting their graduates at a significant disadvantage in the job market. To succeed in today's journalism industry, aspiring reporters should focus on developing broader skills like political science, technology, and understanding institutions rather than traditional journalism degrees.