The AI Media Landscape

Media devote new resources to AI coverage

As companies across every industry integrate AI into their businesses, they are building new AI narratives focused on “what, how, and why” their AI investments make them stand out in the marketplace.

To cover this transformation, media organizations are reallocating editorial resources to cover AI – which remains the biggest business news story – while also exploring ways to put AI to use in their own newsrooms.

• 75% of reporters claim to use AI somewhere in the news process, per a JournalismAI global survey.

In this edition, we review the current media landscape:?

• How top business publications are covering AI
• AI newsletters with the strongest insights and boldest takes
• Major AI conferences and events on the calendar

1. Top business outlets cover AI from every angle

Bloomberg has invested heavily in its AI vertical, which ramped up in mid-2023. The publication hired three new AI reporters and shifted its existing tech team to cover AI breaking news and enterprise.

• Coverage focuses on AI in three main areas: ethics, public policy and enterprise announcements. Lead reporters include Rachel Metz, Shiring Ghaffary, and Sarah Frier.?
• That said, the newsroom has doubled down, stating “all tech reporters are now effectively AI reporters.”

The Economist is exploring AI in articles, podcasts and live interviews. At the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos this month, editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes interviewed OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.?

• The publication takes a broad perspective on AI, covering notable AI leaders, geographical differences in AI, and industry-specific AI news.

Fortune’s AI editor, Jeremy Kahn, recently returned from book leave (Mastering AI: A Survival Guide to Our Superpowered Future coming July 9, 2024).

• He will also co-chair Fortune’s three Brainstorm AI conferences, which are expanding beyond San Francisco to London and Singapore this year.?

2. The best newsletters for AI insights

Newsletters are front and center for breaking news and succinct insights from AI thought leaders.?

Global Gateway Advisors compiled an index of AI newsletters from top publications, which we are updating monthly.?

• Axios AI+, Bloomberg Q&AI, and Forbes CIO highlight AI regulatory updates, new startups and other AI innovations.
• Fortune Eye on AI delves into AI ethics and features exclusive interviews, and recently increased its frequency to twice weekly publication.?
• The Information’s AI Agenda provides in-depth reporting on AI innovations and startups.?

What are you reading that we’re missing? Let us know.?

3. AI conferences for executive speaking opportunities

Just as AI was a dominant topic at recent global events – including Davos and the APEC CEO Summit 2023 in San Francisco – 2024 will see a full slate of AI-focused conferences.?

• See our tracker for major events in the U.S. and globally where executive thought leaders can contribute to the dialogue.?
• This index will be updated regularly with new information about calls for speaker proposals, registration deadlines, etc.

4. Newsrooms navigate AI ethics as they integrate new tools

• Business Insider’s editor-in-chief, Nicholas Carlson, sent a memo to staff encouraging reporters to use AI as a tool in their writing, but to do so with caution. The expectation is that stories must be fully written by reporters, and everyone is responsible for accuracy, fairness, originality and quality.
• Publications like Sports Illustrated have found themselves in hot water for posting AI-generated articles attributed to authors who do not exist.
• Fast Company requires authors submitting bylines for publication to confirm that AI was not used in the creation of their piece.

AI in the newsroom goes beyond digital. Channel 1, a Los Angeles-based news station, announced that it will use AI avatars instead of human anchors.