Informed 09


has been turbo-charged by the rapid deployment of generative AI. On top of this, journalists have also been contending with significant additional pressures in the form of rising rates of harassment, intimidation and threats. It makes quite the perfect storm.” Te NRC sets out ways to strengthen the democratic function of journalism by: reforming media ownership rules with a strengthened public interest test; improving protection for whistleblowers; calling for a conscience clause in staff and freelance employment contracts to protect journalists and communication workers from being forced to produce unethical content; safeguarding journalists against surveillance; and supporting a global framework to protect journalists and press freedom. Te proposals address ways to increase


investment in journalism by calling for a windfall tax of 6 per cent on the tech giants and an ongoing digital tax to provide sustainable future funding; Jobs for Journalists tax credits and interest free loans – a three-year targeted programme to bolster frontline newsgathering roles; tax perks for online or print news subscriptions and local advertising; and funding for new start-ups and public interest journalism initiatives. Central to the plan is the establishment


of a journalism foundation set up by a government grant to champion public interest news and act as a broker for funding initiatives, with a remit including media literacy and fostering plurality and diversity in the industry. Te plan makes clear: “Te NUJ and its members are not seeking handouts – we are looking for investment to transform the media industry, make it fit for our collective purpose and truly serve the public good.” Investment would depend upon securing jobs and protecting the terms and conditions of staff and freelances and producing quality news the public can trust.


AI for public good


“Te deployment of technology such as generative AI must be subject to safeguards, transparency and meaningful regulation so public trust is not further eroded and the rights of creators are respected and protected – now and in the future,” says the NRP.


It insists AI cannot be used as an opportunity to further cut jobs and frontline newsgathering resources in newsrooms that are already hollowed out. Te union is monitoring the use of AI throughout the industry, seeking to ensure that its use is ethical and does not undermine quality journalism. Michelle Stanistreet told the NEC that Newsquest was now boasting about being able to feed press releases into soſtware which regurgitates it in the publisher’s house style. She said: “Where once publishers


may have felt rather embarrassed to admit to its journalists topping and tailing press releases to fill pages – you now hear media executives proudly share in public meetings or at government roundtables how their AI tool takes in press release content and turns it into house style at the click of a buton. So-called churnalism but without the shame factor.” Te NRP says: “Creators’ moral and economic rights must be safeguarded, respected and protected from exploitation – with journalists having full control over their work, how it is used and what they are paid for it.” Impartial news cannot be supplanted


by deploying algorithms that reinforce and inflame prejudices and beliefs, and training data for generative AI must be transparent and subject to scrutiny, it states. Transparency is paramount, from the labelling of content and images


produced by generative AI to employers having a duty to disclose to staff and freelance creators if any materials in an editorial workflow have been generated in part or whole by AI. YouGov research in April 2024 found


approximately half of Britons have a negative view of AI, including 12 per cent who think no good will come from AI in journalism at all. Michelle said: “AI, of course, poses opportunities that could prove beneficial and aid investigative reporting – scaling up requests, interrogating large data sets, packaging up stories to speak to different audiences, something that might prove helpful to freelances in particular. One group has developed a Freedom of Information Request generator, completing requests in seconds. But, for the NUJ, human oversight in the editorial process is critical.” Tere should be a simple opt in mechanism, either for individuals or as part of collective licencing, revocable by the creator at any time and no blanket agreements for “any and all uses”. Te union will be lobbying the Labour government to protect journalists’ rights in legislation. Te NRP says: “In the face of rapid


deployment, comprehensive legislation with teeth is vital to enshrine the rights of creators and regulate AI, at the same time as ensuring respect and adherence to existing copyright and intellectual property laws.”


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