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WaPo considered using robot sports writers

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Inky_Wretch, Aug 20, 2013.

  1. Inky_Wretch

    Inky_Wretch Well-Known Member

    For high school coverage, there were talks about using computer-generated copy.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/video/thefold/auto-journalism-creates-words-without-writers/2013/08/19/ec9bd91c-0911-11e3-9941-6711ed662e71_video.html
     
  2. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    Great. They can meet up with other robots in parking garages to get the JV swimming scores.
     
  3. Morris816

    Morris816 Member

    So they're just gonna do what MaxPreps does?

    Can't wait for that first-rate coverage then.
     
  4. Steak Snabler

    Steak Snabler Well-Known Member

    That robot reporter's stilted syntax cost my kid a scholarship!
     
  5. LongTimeListener

    LongTimeListener Well-Known Member

    And instead of using them in sports, they decided to move them into the White House briefing room.
     
  6. 93Devil

    93Devil Well-Known Member

    The first couple seasons they use them, the machines will be shut down in August. They are just too afraid of the machines breaking down.
     
  7. HanSenSE

    HanSenSE Well-Known Member

    Deep Transistor?
     
  8. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    Will the Robots call on deadline and claim that the game they just watched was sooooo good that there is no way it can be summarized in 10-12 inches?
     
  9. fossywriter8

    fossywriter8 Well-Known Member

    I'm sorry, but despite what the reporter says, the stories are not passable. They're bad.
    They might be good enough for someone's website, but they are far from even passable for actual newspaper publication.
    The one you can briefly see accompanying a photo of a softball game is poorly written.
    And the high school editor who covers more than 200 schools with four full-time reporters? OK, I understand you and your writers cannot possibly cover all those games. But you certainly don't need 300 more writers, even you were exaggerating. And where in the paper would you publish them all?
    Sure, I know you'd put them on the website, but hundreds of poorly-written stories do not make your website good, they make it a joke.
    Is "We cover 200 schools — we don't cover them well, but we cover them!" your motto in that instance?
     
  10. Mark2010

    Mark2010 Active Member

    You get what you pay for. Well, if you're lucky.
     
  11. jackfinarelli

    jackfinarelli Well-Known Member

    The Washington Post devotes a lot of space to high school sports every day.

    The reporting is extensive; the reporting is accurate - based on the lack of many corrections which would surely be pointed out by anxious parents and relatives.

    However, the writing is the reporting is anything but compelling.
     
  12. Tarheel316

    Tarheel316 Well-Known Member

    Now if they were to get Bender from Futurama, well, that might just work.
     
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