menu szukaj
Weekly Online Magazine
ISSN 2544-5839

new articles each monday
zamknij
Work In Media

24.02.2025 Skills and knowledge

Computer-Assisted Reporting. Can algorithms replace journalists?

Bartłomiej Dwornik

Can algorithms replace journalists? This question keeps coming back, especially in an era of the growing role of artificial intelligence and automation. However, instead of painting apocalyptic visions of newsrooms filled with robots, it is worth looking at the tools that are already changing how information is created and analyzed.

Poczytaj artykuł wydanie polskie w wydaniu polskim

Computer-Assisted Reporting. Can algorithms replace journalists?illustration: DALL-E

Computer-Assisted Reporting, or CAR, is simply the use of technology for gathering, analyzing, and presenting information. It is not about replacing reporters with machines but rather about supporting their work through algorithms, databases, and advanced analytical tools.

CAR gained popularity as early as the 1990s when journalists started using databases to uncover scandals. Today, the tools are more advanced, and the range of possibilities is virtually unlimited.

How Technology Supports Journalists


Modern journalism is increasingly data-driven. Computer assistance is useful in many areas of daily work. CAR allows journalists to access and collect information more quickly, analyze and compare it more precisely, and present the results in an engaging way. The result is more accurate, comprehensive, and compelling content.

Analyzing Large Data Sets


Manually searching through hundreds of thousands of documents, reports, or data leaks is impossible. That’s why journalists use data exploration tools. An example? The Panama Papers scandal, where journalists analyzed 11.5 million documents, exposing a network of offshore companies used to hide wealth.

Fact-Checking and Detecting Fake News


In the age of disinformation, CAR helps verify facts. Tools like Google Fact Check Explorer, Snopes, and natural language processing algorithms allow for faster identification of false information.

Data Visualization


Good journalism is not just about numbers but also how they are presented. Infographics, interactive maps, and charts help readers understand even complex topics. Popular tools include Canva, Tableau, Flourish, and Datawrapper. A great example is The Guardian Data Blog, which uses data to create accessible reports and analyses, demonstrating how digital journalism can simplify complex issues.

Automating Reports


Some content—such as sports results or stock market reports—can be generated automatically. Many newsrooms, including Reuters and The Washington Post, use AI tools to write short notes and analyses.

However, it is fair to admit that computer-assisted journalism is not without flaws, concerns, and challenges. Using web scraping and social media monitoring raises questions about privacy and journalistic ethics. Some advanced CAR tools are expensive, posing a barrier for smaller newsrooms. Journalists also need the right technical skills to use CAR tools effectively. Lastly, an overreliance on technology could erode traditional journalism, including in-person interviews, field reporting, and even writing stories independently. Caution is needed.

SELF PROMOTION. Listen to the story of Vanuatu Daily Post. Discover our #mediaHISTORYpodcast

Practical Applications of CAR


The potential is enticing, and the results can be spectacular. Computer-Assisted Reporting is used in various areas of journalism, from corruption investigations to analyzing social trends. CAR is not just a theory—journalists worldwide apply these methods in practice. Here are some concrete examples:

  • Investigative Journalism


    Investigative journalists use CAR to sift through financial documents, company records, and databases to uncover irregularities and corruption. These methods helped expose the Panama Papers scandal—an enormous case of hidden wealth by politicians and celebrities in tax havens.
  • Political Journalism


    Analyzing open sources, voting records, and archived speeches helps track politicians’ activities. CAR tools assist in comparing election promises with actual actions, examining financial ties, and investigating who influences government decisions.
  • Disaster and Pandemic Reporting


    During the COVID-19 pandemic, journalists used big data analysis to report infection rates, hospital capacity, and vaccine effectiveness. Similarly, in natural disasters, satellite and meteorological data analysis helps predict the impacts of earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods.
  • Studying Social Trends


    Social media data, market reports, and economic statistics help predict social and economic shifts. This allows analysis of topics such as the impact of inflation on consumer behavior or migration trends.

One important note: CAR tools support journalists, but they are still just tools. Numbers (usually) don’t lie, but interpreting them is an art. And who better than journalists to extract a story from numbers that no one wanted to tell?

Is CAR Changing the Role of Journalists?


Yes, but it does not mean that reporters will become obsolete. On the contrary, their role now involves not only gathering facts but also interpreting data, asking the right questions, and recognizing hidden connections. Traditional investigative journalism is now combined with data analytics. Those who master these skills will become invaluable specialists in the future. Because while computers are fast, they still lack one crucial thing—human intuition.

So no, journalists will NOT be replaced by algorithms—machines can process data, but humans give it context and uncover real stories. It is still people who (for now) ask the key question: "What does all this mean?".

Share the article:

dodaj na Facebook prześlij przez Messenger dodaj na Twitter dodaj na LinkedIn

COMMERCIAL BREAK

New articles in section Skills and knowledge

Preschoolers Expose Hypocrites. Findings from SWPS University

ekr/ bar/
Even preschool children are able to recognize hypocrites, whom they rate worse than other people who break the rules, researchers from SWPS University in Poland demonstrate. Caregivers should therefore pay attention to whether their actions are consistent with their declarations, because children are careful observers of moral integrity.

It's Easier to Lie and Swear in Foreign Language. Here is Scientific Proof

Ewelina Krajczyńska-Wujec
A decision made based on data presented in a learned foreign language may be different than if you made it based on data in your native language. Language changes the intensity of felt emotions, and it affects the ability to analyse problems and choose solutions, according to research by Rafał Muda, PhD.

Video, Photo, or Text? What Really Works in Social Campaigns

KFi
Can ecology go viral? How can complex environmental issues be communicated in an engaging and effective way? A study by Wenye Mao and Yuko Nishide from Tohoku University analyzes two elements of narrative strategy: the type of medium (posts, posters, videos) and the mode of storytelling (individual vs. group).


See articles on a similar topic:

Traditional Media Still Plays a Key Role in PR

Flor Calveiro
The latest trend research from Worldcom PR Group EMEA has shown that, despite the growing importance of social media, the position of "traditional" media remains steadfast and continues to play a key role in public relations activities.

Writing for the Web. The 4x4 Rule for Content Optimization

Bartłomiej Dwornik
How do you craft a Google-friendly title, what’s the ideal article length, and how often should you use keywords? A guide for those writing for websites.

How to Write an Article That Google Loves and People Understand

Bartłomiej Dwornik
The order of priorities in this guide's title is intentional. In 2024, to reach a larger audience, you must first convince the algorithms to display your content to readers. First - the article must be factually sound. Second - it should look appealing and be easy to read. We’ll focus on the latter.

Readability: Tools for Journalists to Enhance Text Clarity

Bartłomiej Dwornik
Even the most substantive content must be presented in an accessible and visually appealing way. First, so the reader can understand it. Second, to be easy on the eyes. In both cases, machines can help. Here are some tools for measuring text readability that every journalist might find useful.

More in the section: Skills and knowledge

community

Facebook LinkedIn X Twitter TikTok Instagram Threads Youtube Google News Blue Sky Social RSS

Reporterzy.info - online media studies magazine. The world of communication from the inside. Media, journalism, PR and marketing. Data, reports, analyses, advice. History and market, law, photography, job offers.


Work in media

United States
New York • Washington DC • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Phoenix • Philadelphia United Kingdom
London • Birmingham • Manchester • Liverpool • Glasgow • Edinburgh Canada
Toronto • Ottawa • Montreal • Calgary Australia
Sydney • Melbourne • Brisbane • canberra Ireland, New Zealand, India

advertisement





Reporter shopping

Reporter shopping

Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
for writing
Digital SLR and compact cameras
Digital SLR and compact cameras
for photographers
Books and e-books about media
Books and e-books about media
for reading
Video drones and flying cameras
Video drones and flying cameras
for pilots
Gimbals for stabilizing video
Gimbals for stabilizing video
for those on the move
Software and apps for creative work
Software and apps for creative work
for digital creators
More occasions

advertisement
Read books and e-books

Read books and e-books

Okładka Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Okładka Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Okładka Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Okładka Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Beyond The Feed: A Social Media Success Formula
Okładka Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Okładka Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
more books and e-books

Reporterzy.info

More about us

Our tools and services

Contact


© Dwornik.pl Bartłomiej Dwornik 2oo1-2o25