Journalists and Reporters
Official O*NET title: News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (27-3023.00)
Also called: anchor, journalist, multimedia journalist, news anchor, news reporter
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing journalists and reporters work
10 of 25 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 40%. 1 newer task is not in the data yet and left out.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Review written, audio, or video copy, and correct errors in content, grammar, or punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, or the general public via mail, email, or telephone (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Check reference materials (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Write columns, editorials, commentaries, or reviews that interpret events or offer opinions (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Analyze and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Revise work to meet editorial approval or to fit time or space requirements (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Determine a published or broadcasted story's emphasis, length, and format, organizing material accordingly (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Write online blog entries that address news developments or offer additional information, opinions, or commentary on news events (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Report news stories for publication or broadcast, describing the background and details of events (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Gather information and develop perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Investigate breaking news developments (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Report on specialized fields such as medicine, green technology, environmental issues, science, politics, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Review and evaluate notes taken about news events to isolate pertinent facts and details (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Take pictures or video, and process them for inclusion in a story (main task) — too new for the AI data
- Conduct taped or filmed interviews or narratives (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Develop ideas or material for columns or commentaries by analyzing and interpreting news, current issues, or personal experiences (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Transmit news stories or reporting information from remote locations, using equipment such as satellite phones, telephones, fax machines, or modems (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Discuss issues with editors to establish priorities or positions (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Photograph or videotape news events (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Present live or recorded commentary via broadcast media — no recorded AI use
- Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs — no recorded AI use
- Present news stories, and introduce in-depth videotaped segments or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters — no recorded AI use
- Assign stories to other reporters or duties to production staff — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats”. Try the prompt for: “Review written, audio, or video copy, and correct errors in content, grammar, or punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and journalists and reporters
Will AI replace journalists and reporters?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 10 of the 26 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 19 of the 30 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which journalist tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats; review written, audio, or video copy, and correct errors in content, grammar, or punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines; communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, or the general public via mail, email, or telephone.
Which journalist tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: report news stories for publication or broadcast, describing the background and details of events; gather information and develop perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience; research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 99% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a journalist start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Journalists and Reporters ranks #182 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #11 of 31 in Creative & Media.
Related jobs
- Will AI change art directors?
- Will AI change craft artists and makers?
- Will AI change fine artists and illustrators?
- Will AI change animators and vfx artists?
- Will AI change industrial and product designers?
- Will AI change fashion designers?
- Will AI change radio and tv presenters?
- Will AI change editors?
- Will AI change writers and authors?
- Will AI change producers and directors?
- See all jobs