On your desks, get set, go: 10 ways journalists can make best use of ChatGPT

The infamous AI tool reads ‘ChatGPT sometimes writes plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers’. So journos should watch out for any generalised answer given by the tool or propaganda driven statements. 

When journalists started using ChatGPT for climate reporting, they also found instances of green washing, fictional data points or incorrect quotations. It may seem I am making a case against ChatGPT but it is essential to know what would be the drawbacks as well. 

That being said, let’s dive into what ChatGPT can do for journalists: 

1.  Summarise it for me

Journalists read through documents, research studies, analysis so frequently that numbers can appear in our dreams. ChatGPT can generate quite efficient summaries. The caveat? You will have to cross check the summaries.

2.  Dumb it down

Journos often go through a brain freeze and CHATGPT can warm it up. Readers can only understand an article when the journalist genuinely knows the concept. You can ask GPT to dumb it down for you. But it is essential you cross-check this with your editor. 

3.  Translation

This AI tool can help you understand another language. A journo can also ask GPT to generate interview questions in another language. 

4.  What was the word again? 

Even though journos play with words, sometimes they evade your memory. ChatGPT can act as a thesaurus, generating synonyms for a word that you tend to overuse (you know the one I am talking about). 

5.  Play Banter

How fun would it be if you could practice your interview before it happens? Make CHATGPT your interviewee and fire away! Banter with it. You can also ask the tool to predict plausible future trends or implications of a news story. 

6.  Generate headlines

As an editor, one goes through a gazillion copies every day. Reporters are notorious for being breezy with their grammar, knowing the editor would comb through for errors. ChatGPT can help generate headlines for editors, to give their mind a reboot. 

7.  Write an email

Why waste time writing an email when you could be spending your time reporting on-ground? Outsource formalities to GPT. 

8.  Generate a social media post

It can also generate quirky, fun headline for a social media feed. (Of course matching the tone of your article). This can also be used by social media managers. 

9.  The why of the article

Take this with a pinch of salt but this is when you want to quickly know why a particular trend or news is everywhere. Although Chat GPT can provide a context for news, it is best to verify the result. 

10.            Check out best interviews

For being a writer, you have to be a reader. When you are preparing for your next interview, ask GPT to pick out the best interviews given by your interviewee. ChatGPT is commen