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How AI Is Shaping Story Drafts at The Oregonian
The Oregonian uses AI to draft and rewrite stories with editorial review, disclosing AI assistance to maintain transparency. Tasks include transcribing, translating, and summarizing content.
The Oregonian’s New Approach to AI in Journalism
Recently, readers of The Oregonian noticed a new disclosure at the end of several stories on OregonLive.com: “This story was drafted with the assistance of generative AI,” followed by confirmation that the content was reviewed by editorial staff. This marks a clear step forward in how the newspaper integrates artificial intelligence into its workflow.
Back in 2023, Editor Therese Bottomly shared that The Oregonian was using AI primarily to summarize real estate transactions. The latest examples, however, involve AI rewriting press releases. For instance, one story was based on a Travel Portland release about Food Cart Week. Another covered a tragic car accident reported by the Oregon State Police in Clatsop County.
How The Oregonian Uses AI Today
- Transcribing podcasts
- Translating stories into Spanish
- Rewriting press releases with editorial review
Bottomly emphasized that any AI-assisted content undergoes review by editors or reporters before publication. When AI contributes to newsroom-generated content, they include a disclosure notifying readers of its use. This transparency is part of the paper’s official policy.
What This Means for Writers
For writers, the key takeaway is the importance of maintaining editorial oversight when using AI tools. AI can handle repetitive tasks like summarizing or rewriting basic information, but human judgment remains essential to ensure accuracy and tone.
Writers interested in exploring AI-assisted writing can find practical training and courses at Complete AI Training. These resources offer guidance on effectively incorporating AI tools into your workflow, while keeping editorial quality intact.