"The promise of AI is its ability to sift through massive amounts of information presented in any format (audio, video, text, images, etc.) to help reporters pinpoint what warrants a closer look. Take the Epstein files. A few years ago, a drop of 23,000 documents would have been considered flooding the zone because it would have taken journalists a long time to identify what was newsworthy. AI has changed that equation."
"Following Charlie Kirk's assassination, we transcribed 2,500 of his podcasts and videos to get a sense of the breadth of his remarks. Our reporters and graphics editors watched many of his on-campus debates to identify aspects of his rhetorical style. Then the AI Initiatives team was able to scour dozens of these debates to find more examples of the ways that he spoke with students, resulting in an illuminating interactive."
AI has shifted from a tool for efficiency to one that enables investigative discovery by uncovering stories that would otherwise remain hidden. AI can sift massive amounts of information in any format—audio, video, text, images—to help reporters identify what warrants closer examination. Large document drops, such as 23,000 Epstein files, are now searchable and analyzable, reversing the "flooding the zone" strategy. News organizations apply AI under newsroom principles to supplement reporters and editors while relying on journalists for guidance and fact-checking. Transcription and large-scale analysis have dramatically shortened project timelines. Tools like Cheatsheet power extensive investigative projects.
Read at Nieman Lab
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