Report

Journalism in the AI Era: A TRF Insights survey

How journalists in the Global South and emerging economies are using AI, and the challenges they face


Overview

From enhanced efficiency to personalised reporting, the AI revolution in journalism is reshaping how we produce, distribute and consume news. 

This transformation promises creativity and innovation in newsrooms. However, it also presents significant challenges in areas such as ethics and equity. Existing narratives about AI adoption are often Western-centric, yet access to this technology differs worldwide, as do the problems faced by journalists and newsrooms.

To address this imbalance, in October 2024, we surveyed more than 200 journalists – all alumni of our training programmes – from 70+ countries across the Global South and emerging economies to explore their adoption of AI, as well as their hopes and fears about journalism in the AI era.

Using these findings, our new report shines a much-needed spotlight on the journalistic landscape in the Global South and emerging economies, and provides a platform for the voices of journalists navigating rapid technological change. This report forms the first in our TRF Insights series, where we work with our global alumni network of journalists to take timely pulse checks of major developments in the profession and provide data-led insights for the sector.

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Report snapshot

0 %

of newsrooms surveyed had no established policy for AI.

While over 80% of the journalists we surveyed were using AI in their profession, almost 8 in 10 had no established policy for AI use in their newsrooms.

0 %

said that AI had significantly impacted their work.

Despite concerns about AI’s impact on creativity, originality, and the risk of increased misinformation, journalists expressed a cautious optimism towards this new technology, recognising its capability to support on a diverse range of tasks.

0 %

of AI users are self-taught, indicating a greater need for training.

In the absence of clear policies or structured training opportunities, many journalists are taking the initiative to educate themselves about AI.

Key recommendations

Our report features recommendations based on the insights from the journalists we surveyed, as well as our own knowledge in this space. They detail strategies and actions to help drive the responsible and ethical development of AI, and its integration into journalistic work.

Core insights for funders include the need to: 

  • Invest in AI training and capacity-building tailored to the Global South and emerging economies 
  • Fund pilot projects and research specific to journalism in the Global South 
  • Support initiatives to develop and share AI tools and counter digital divides 

For newsrooms, principal takeaways underscored the importance of: 

  • Establish policies for acceptable and responsible use of AI
  • Provide training for journalists and editors 
  • Foster a culture of AI literacy

This unique, timely report provides a fresh perspective on how AI is being used by journalists in under-investigated regions. Drawing on the needs identified by journalists, the full report includes actionable recommendations for newsroom leaders, media development organisations, funders, policymakers and developers. 

About the author

Damian Radcliffe