Seven Network is introducing an artificial intelligence tool to draft online news articles directly from its television broadcast scripts, with the rollout already under way in its Sydney and Melbourne newsrooms. The move follows a round of mass redundancies that has seen several senior journalists depart, raising alarm among remaining staff about the future of reporting roles.
A tool named after a 1990s icon
The new tool has been given the internal codename "Clippy," a nod to the Microsoft Office assistant tool that many users found intrusive in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It is expected to be renamed 7START. Managers have told journalists they "need to start using it," according to staff who spoke to Crikey.
The system is designed to take existing TV scripts and generate written articles for the network's digital platforms, repackaging broadcast reporting without requiring a journalist to write each story from scratch.
Redundancy backdrop sharpens anxiety
The rollout comes weeks after a significant redundancy round that saw high-profile journalists leave the company. Staff who spoke to Crikey expressed concern about the timing, linking the AI tool to reduced headcount and a faster, automated news cycle. One newsroom source said, "They've told us we need to start using it - there's no opt-out."
Seven's management has not disclosed how many articles the tool will produce or what human oversight will be applied, but the directive has left many writers fearful that their roles could be diminished further.
Why this matters for writers
For news writers, the introduction of script-to-article automation signals a shift where traditional writing tasks are handed to AI, requiring journalists to focus on editing, verification and nuance rather than first-draft composition. As newsrooms adopt tools like 7START, the line between broadcast scripting and online article writing blurs, making resources such as AI for Writers increasingly useful for professionals navigating these changes.
Scriptwriters, in particular, may find their work feeding directly into automated text output. Familiarity with how AI can assist rather than replace their craft is becoming a key skill. An AI Learning Path for Scriptwriters offers structured guidance for those who want to understand how these tools work and how to maintain editorial standards while using them.
Your membership also unlocks:
