1. The algorithms behind the
headlines
How machine-written news redefines
the core skills of human journalists
Arjen van Dalen
Center for Journalism
University of Southern Denmark

2. Van Dalen,Arjen (2012).The algorithms behind the headlines:
How machine-written news redefines the core skills of human
journalists. Journalism Practice 6(5-6): 648-58.
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4. Duke Knocked Off by Fifth-seeded Arizona 93-77 in
Sweet Sixteen
Top-seeded Duke got a nasty surprise in the Sweet Sixteen
with a 93-77 upset loss to fifth-seeded Arizona in Anaheim.
Arizona struggled out of the gate, falling behind 44-38 at the
half but got it going late to get the big win. (…) On the way to
the Sweet Sixteen, Duke beat 16th-seeded Hampton, 87-45 in
the second round and then eighth-seeded Michigan, 73-71 in
the third round. (…)
The Wildcats were fueled by Derrick Williams, who had a
career night with 32 points. His previous career high was 31
against California on 01/06/11.After that, Lamont Jones had 16
points, Solomon Hill had 13, and Kyle Fogg had eight.
http://bluedevildaily.com/duke-basketball/game-recap/duke-
knocked-off-by-fifth-seeded-arizona-93-77-in-sweet-sixteen

5. Duke Knocked Off by Fifth-seeded Arizona 93-77 in
Sweet Sixteen
Top-seeded Duke got a nasty surprise in the Sweet Sixteen
with a 93-77 upset loss to fifth-seeded Arizona in Anaheim.
Arizona struggled out of the gate, falling behind 44-38 at the
half but got it going late to get the big win. (…) On the way to
the Sweet Sixteen, Duke beat 16th-seeded Hampton, 87-45 in
the second round and then eighth-seeded Michigan, 73-71 in
the third round. (…)
The Wildcats were fueled by Derrick Williams, who had a
career night with 32 points. His previous career high was 31
against California on 01/06/11. After that, Lamont Jones had
16 points, Solomon Hill had 13, and Kyle Fogg had eight.
http://bluedevildaily.com/duke-basketball/game-recap/duke-
knocked-off-by-fifth-seeded-arizona-93-77-in-sweet-sixteen

6. How will content automation change
journalism?
 ”What can be automated will be automated”
 ” It’s not that the algorithms write so well; it’s that, so much of what
we’re already reading is even worse.”
 ”Making journalists more human”
 “It likely will be neither the journalists nor the engineers who get to
decide, but the audiences and the publishers.”
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7. How human journalists see their skills and
future in the light of content automation
Strengths
 Creativity
 Flexibility
 Analytical skills
Weaknesses
 Marginal costs
 Cannot provide the same
breadth of coverage
 Speed
Opportunities
 More time for research and in-
depth reporting
 Pushes human journalists to
do a better job
 Cover stories which now go
uncovered
Threats
 May put journalists doing
routine tasks out of work
 New ethical questions

8. Conclusion:
Automation and the future of journalism
 Automated content creation seen as relevant development
which will affect the work of journalists
 Complementary relation rather than threat
 New ethical questions (transparency; copyright)
 More creativity and in depth analysis?
-Automation of journalism has in the past lead to more
routine work
-Audiences and publishers will decide
 Challenge for journalism educators to provide journalists of
the future with journalistic, creative and technical skills
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