The broadcast giant shared three specific workflows that let AI handle routine tasks without replacing editorial judgment.
Key Takeaways
- Scripps uses AI to convert broadcast scripts into digital articles.
- Three workflows let AI handle repetitive tasks without editorial risk.
- Journalists remain in control while AI covers the routine work.
E.W. Scripps released details Monday on how its newsrooms use artificial intelligence as “an assistant, not a decision-maker.” The company’s approach focuses on streamlining processes so journalists can spend more time reporting stories that impact their communities.
Scripps’ most common AI application converts broadcast scripts into digital articles. When reporters finish their TV stories, AI transforms those scripts into web-friendly formats. The facts, quotes, and reporting all come from journalists—AI simply organizes the content for online readers.
“All the facts and reporting come from us; AI just helps tidy things up, so we can spend more time chasing new stories for the community,” the newsroom explained in a statement on its website.
The company also uses AI to analyze lengthy documents. When faced with extensive city council agendas or government reports, AI quickly identifies key highlights and provides specific page references. This allows reporters to focus their attention on the most newsworthy elements while ensuring nothing important gets overlooked.
Scripps runs scripts through AI systems programmed with the company’s ethics guidelines to help identify potential issues with accuracy, fairness, or bias. Editors still conduct their traditional reviews of all content.
This approach aligns with broader industry efforts to teach journalists to use AI without losing critical thinking. As AI agents become more common in newsrooms, clear governance frameworks like Scripps’ become essential.
Every piece of content processed through AI undergoes thorough review by editors and news managers before publication. Human judgment drives all editorial decisions at Scripps. Journalists remain responsible for all story choices, fact-checking, and final approval of published content.
Stories created with AI assistance include a disclosure explaining the process and confirming that journalists have verified all content for accuracy and fairness. The disclosure reads: “This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.”
The CUNY AI Journalism Lab recently selected 23 global news leaders for its 2026 cohort, highlighting growing demand for AI expertise in newsrooms.
Source: 10News
