Simon Perry – How can robot journalists help the media?
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This document discusses an experiment by OnTheWight to introduce some automation into their newsroom reporting on routine monthly data releases. They analyzed past articles on the Job Seekers Allowance to learn the common structure and language used. The automated articles were reviewed by humans and labeled as being auto-assisted. While there was one incorrect report due to a variable issue, the results showed the potential for automation to free up time for journalists to do more in-depth investigations. The automation could also scale to create hyper-local articles across different regions in the UK.
Simon Perry – How can robot journalists help the media?
- 1. @SimonPerry Notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15 Automated articles Welcoming some automation into the Newsroom, without losing your job Freeing yourself from dull reporting, to carry out juicy investigations
- 2. @SimonPerry Notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15 Background to OnTheWight 10 years 25k+ articles 125k+ comments Uniques peaking at 100k+/month (Pop. 140k. 66k households)
- 3. @SimonPerry Notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15 Why we did it Keep ourselves amused Try automation Eventual goal - freeing up time for 'proper' reporting
- 4. @SimonPerry Notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15 Approach to project Simple, data set, not too frequent (allow for development between), formulaic articles Start simple, increase complexity
- 5. @SimonPerry Notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15 The data NOMIS Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) Issued monthly. Fixed format and range
- 6. @SimonPerry Notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15 The approach Dissect historic articles. Learn structure Language changes on size of change Variation in phrasing used Labelled as auto-assisted Human reviewed
- 8. @SimonPerry Notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15 Teething problem Netflix 7:1 stock split - unusual event Us - Incorrect report caused by stray variable Cause Disconnection between editorial and development Editorial rush & assumed correct Fixes Version control, with sign off Enhance internal error checking
- 9. @SimonPerry Notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15 The power & potential Just as easy to create area-specific articles across UK Platforms Direct WordPress injection Slack Bot Potential Considerable Greatest efficiencies - multiple publications
- 10. @SimonPerry Notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15 Thank you OnTheWight http://OnTheWight.com Simon Perry @SimonPerry Supplementary notes http://wig.ht/newsrewired15