A Survey on Journalists’ Use and Perceived Impact of ChatGPT on Thai Newsrooms
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Abstract
This study examined journalists’ perceptions of using ChatGPT in Thai media newsrooms. The mixed-methods approach employed a survey of 100 news staff and interviews with 17 media professionals in November 2023. The findings indicated that while most media professionals have reportedly known and used ChatGPT, only a few actively utilized it in newsrooms. The hesitancy stemmed primarily from concerns regarding the trustworthiness of information generated by ChatGPT. Those who have adopted ChatGPT in their journalistic work find ChatGPT beneficial for initiating ideas, gathering secondary data, synthesizing information, and crafting content. However, even these proponents acknowledge the need for journalists to exercise caution when employing this AI-generative tool. Several factors contributed to the hesitation or avoidance of ChatGPT among media professionals. These include untrustworthy information, a lack of source references, limited prompt knowledge, and Thai language barriers. Concerns regarding the potential impact of ChatGPT on newsrooms include job displacement, AI-generated news, copyright issues, media ethics, and misinformation and data manipulation. Media organizations should invest in data ecosystems for AI training, prioritize credibility over speed, and address AI literacy and ethical concerns, as well as develop guidelines and training programs to educate journalists about AI capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations.
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References
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