Wired: Can an Algorithm Write a Better News Story Than a Human Reporter?

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/04/can-an-algorithm-write-a-better-news-story-than-a-human-reporter/

 

OK, but how will the computer handle the calls from parents complaining that you cover the other team more than you cover them, that you don't mention their kid often enough when you do cover us, and how we're costing them a scholarship by doing that?

 

Dear God, if a human writer here ever wrote "day at the dish" in a story, I would hope the sports editor would slap them.

 

You only get an algorithm coding virus when our team loses!

 

press 1 if we cost your son/daughter a scholarship

 

[quote author=Wired]And the articles don’t read like robots wrote them:

Friona fell 10-8 to Boys Ranch in five innings on Monday at Friona despite racking up seven hits and eight runs. Friona was led by a flawless day at the dish by Hunter Sundre, who went 2-2 against Boys Ranch pitching. Sundre singled in the third inning and tripled in the fourth inning … Friona piled up the steals, swiping eight bags in all …[/quote]

Maybe not, but a horrible writer that Bleacher Report wouldn't hire.

I'd change "fell" to "lost", remove "on," take out "eight runs," remove "at the dish" (as others have talked about), take out "against Boys Ranch pitching" and remove the "piled up steals, swiping eight bags" with something not repetitive or something that provides more clarity such as "took advantage of not being held at first and stole eight bases."

I'm sure many editors on here could do much better than I did with the editing than I did. So, no, algorithms can't write a better news story than a human. Yet, anyway.

 

Hasn't this story been written once a year for the last 15 years?

 

Yes. There's a robot doing it, now.

 

This operation, which is owned by United Communications that also owns a few newspapers, doesn't think reporters are needed.

http://www.communitysportsdesk.com

 

"with a big greasy side of win"

 

Statsheet.com has been doing this for years.

Here's the Super Bowl gamer ...

http://gmenreport.com/new-york-giants/game-recap/giants-beat-patriots-21-17-win-super-bowl-super-bowl-xlvi

 

You see "stories" like these pop up on Maxpreps every now and then. They make for great laughs: "Fans of Podunk Christian were highly entertained by the home team's 3-0 win over Shelbyville Christian in a league volleyball match." Uh, 3-0. Three points and everyone goes home?