She was good enough to NOT work at the Plain Dealer

[garrow]

 

[Here me roar]

So I have a friend group from college that posted this the other day. It raises a lot of interesting questions. I would not have become a journalist if I wasn't doing the writing. But I digress. I certainly understand that they can't hire as many people as they used to, And not doing the writing. Certainly saves time, but I question the editor's assertion that humans are in charge every step of the way. I think at some point you have so few people the AI will be in control. And I would like to see a breakdown of how the facts go from the reporters notes into an AI engine.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Whoever this is will become famous and have her choice of jobs when she comes out with her I'm Not Joining The Athletic piece.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Jesus, that was a depressing read.

So, J schools are failing students by not preparing them to do work as soul-crushingly ****ty as the current Plain Dealer? Got it.

I would be fired for doing the **** the Plain Dealer is so proud of.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

I had to get one of those month-long subs to the PD for something I was writing, can't remember what. But I made the mistake of using my regular email address instead of the Yahoo one I use when I need to signup for **** and I was getting multiple emails a day from this Chris Quinn ****o, who sounded like an editor cooked up by AI...all sorts of corporate lingo softened just enough to sound journalistically friendly but all clearly written by someone who has never kept score in the snow or knocked on anyone's door. So shoutout to this college student for proving what a ****o he is.

 

[JimmyHoward33]

Its nice that this person has, presumably, a second offer and can down turn what appears to be a major metro? That’s privilege. Most of us simply cannot

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Its nice that this person has, presumably, a second offer and can down turn what appears to be a major metro? That’s privilege. Most of us simply cannot

You always have a choice. To quote a favorite movie, “there’s always work at the post office.”

 

[MileHigh]

Its nice that this person has, presumably, a second offer and can down turn what appears to be a major metro? That’s privilege. Most of us simply cannot

This isn't 1997. Or even 2005.

 

[JimmyHoward33]

Are jobs in this busniess not even MORE scarce than they were in 1997 or 2005?

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Are jobs in this busniess not even MORE scarce than they were in 1997 or 2005?

So are jobs out of the business.

She has principles, though. She'll be fine because of them.

 

[DanOregon]

I respect the writer, don't understand why the editor publicized it. Makes the paper look bad. Really the kind of thing you talk about in a symposium about the future of journalism (if they still have those) or at an SPJ gathering.

 

[FileNotFound]

I had to get one of those month-long subs to the PD for something I was writing, can't remember what. But I made the mistake of using my regular email address instead of the Yahoo one I use when I need to signup for **** and I was getting multiple emails a day from this Chris Quinn ****o, who sounded like an editor cooked up by AI...all sorts of corporate lingo softened just enough to sound journalistically friendly but all clearly written by someone who has never kept score in the snow or knocked on anyone's door. So shoutout to this college student for proving what a ****o he is.

I respect the writer, don't understand why the editor publicized it. Makes the paper look bad. Really the kind of thing you talk about in a symposium about the future of journalism (if they still have those) or at an SPJ gathering.

Quinn is a tool.

 

[Severian]

I'm Not Joining The Athletic piece.

You mean, "Why I Didn't Join The Plain Dealer"?

 

[fossywriter8]

I respect the writer, don't understand why the editor publicized it. Makes the paper look bad. Really the kind of thing you talk about in a symposium about the future of journalism (if they still have those) or at an SPJ gathering.

I think the us of AI in a newspaper is something that should, at the very least, be discussed at a professional gathering.

 

[Situation]

I question Nathan's post. Do Plain Dealer journalists really use AI to write their stories? Or do they use AI to be better and more efficient at their jobs?

I didn't read Quinn's piece but I'm sure there is some nuance to it.

And if any reporter -- or just about any any other job title you can think of -- isn't using AI, they will be left behind very soon.

In what ways can a journalist use AI tools to make them better at their job? AI Tools for Journalists

 

[PCLoadLetter]

I question Nathan's post. Do Plain Dealer journalists really use AI to write their stories? Or do they use AI to be better and more efficient at their jobs?

I didn't read Quinn's piece but I'm sure there is some nuance to it.

And if any reporter -- or just about any any other job title you can think of -- isn't using AI, they will be left behind very soon.

In what ways can a journalist use AI tools to make them better at their job? AI Tools for Journalists

Perhaps you should read Quinn's piece. There is no nuance to it.

 

[PaperClip529]

I question Nathan's post. Do Plain Dealer journalists really use AI to write their stories? Or do they use AI to be better and more efficient at their jobs?

I didn't read Quinn's piece but I'm sure there is some nuance to it.

And if any reporter -- or just about any any other job title you can think of -- isn't using AI, they will be left behind very soon.

In what ways can a journalist use AI tools to make them better at their job? AI Tools for Journalists

I mean, the Plain Dealer piece is literally linked in the post you are questioning.

 

[Preacher Roe]

Most of the copy I've seen on the Advance sites with an AI byline/co-byline is awkward at best and much of it is hot garbage.

I highly doubt they are investing in the most advanced iterations of whatever AI platform(s) they are using. And I would be curious to know how much work an "AI rewrite specialist" is allowed to do (and how they hire for those spots). Because it's hard to believe a human actually worked on most of this stuff.

 

[Roscablo]

I was the editor of a B2B website, and that position was eliminated. I think I would have lasted a little longer if I had embraced AI. My bosses, with no journalism, editorial or even writing background, loved it. For everything. And what they did with AI was so, so bad and obvious. That included graphics and art that was just gross. I edited a few stories they used with it, but wouldn't go full in. I know they didn't like that stance. We had a discussion a week before about using more AI, and it just needed to be accepted because it was where things were going. I didn't say no, but clearly wasn't comfortable. A week later they eliminated the entire editorial team.

Since they still publish as many stories as we did with people. Only one real writer that I can tell, someone who worked for me and is the daughter of one of the main employees. They have three more bylines of people I am 99 percent sure are not real but can't prove it -- there are no editorial or social backgrounds on any of them and another thing my bosses love more than anything, LinkedIn, they have no profiles or links to the site. So they are using fake bylines and AI stories and not publishing that they are doing either.

Maybe I am an old man yelling at a cloud, but I just can't get behind any of that. I talked to one of my old writers after all this and he also works at a major publication and said he has it in his contract that he can't use AI. So some are resisting. There could be good ways to use it, but this certainly isn't it.

We may all fall behind with this stuff, but I am not sure I can ever get behind using AI in journalism. Even if it means not working in the field again. I don't know what they are teaching in J-school on this stuff, but good for her.

 

[TigerVols]

Perhaps you should read Quinn's piece. There is no nuance to it.

I tried but it's paywalled apparently. Any gift links anywhere?