ChatGPT’s views on education journalism

The AI program accurately identifies education journalism’s strengths and challenges — and its description of my views is pretty accurate, too.

By Alexander Russo

Educators and journalists are freaking out about ChatGPT, the new generative AI program that can answer questions with varying degrees of accuracy and completeness.

I’m not among those who think that the sky is going to fall but I am among the curious.

And so, a few days after the program was announced, I asked the program a few questions.

Asked about the state of education journalism in the US, the AI responded

The education beat in the US is quite large, with education policy and issues being covered by many news outlets at the national, state, and local level.

The quality of coverage can vary, but there are many experienced and dedicated journalists who specialize in covering education and produce high-quality reporting.

Additionally, there are several well-respected organizations that provide in-depth coverage and analysis of education issues, such as Education Week and The 74.

“The quality of coverage can vary, but there are many experienced and dedicated journalists who specialize in covering education and produce high-quality reporting.”

Not bad, right? Basic and incomplete, but not wildly inaccurate.

Asked what holds education journalism back, the AI listed a series of obstacles:

Limited resources: Many media outlets have had to cut back on their coverage of local news and education, due to budget constraints and a shift towards digital news.

Lack of expertise: Many journalists covering K-12 education may not have a background in education or may not have the time to fully research and understand the complexities of the education system.

Limited audience: Education news may not have a wide audience compared to other news subjects, which may lead media outlets to prioritize other stories instead.

Difficulty in measuring impact: Education stories can be challenging to report on, as it can be difficult to measure the impact of policies and initiatives.

Limited access: Reporters may face limited access to schools and school officials, which can make it difficult to report on the inner workings of the education system.

Limited interest: Many education stories may not be considered interesting or newsworthy by the media, which can lead to lack of coverage.

Sensitivity of the subject: Education is a sensitive subject and some media outlets may be hesitant to report on issues that may be considered controversial or offensive to certain groups.

“Education stories can be challenging to report on, as it can be difficult to measure the impact of policies and initiatives.”

Again, not perfect — but not bad. I think most of us could agree with the basic assessment.

Last but not least, I asked the AI to write a column about media coverage from my point of view:

Alexander Russo is a freelance education journalist who has written extensively on the state of education journalism in the United States.

In his view, education journalism is a vital and undervalued field that plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of important issues like school funding, teacher quality, and student performance.

He feels that despite the importance of education to society, the field of education journalism is often underfunded and understaffed, with many news organizations choosing to prioritize other issues over coverage of education.

“Education journalism is a vital and undervalued field that plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of important issues like school funding, teacher quality, and student performance.”

Russo argues that the lack of resources dedicated to education journalism has led to a situation where coverage of the topic is often shallow and sensationalized, focusing on test scores and other metrics rather than the complex issues that shape the education system.

He also believes that this situation has been exacerbated by the declining number of newspapers in the U.S, which has led to fewer opportunities for journalists to cover education.

Russo also feels that it is important for education journalists to be experts in their field, both in terms of having a deep understanding of the policy and research related to education, but also in terms of the on-the-ground reality of schools and classrooms.

He argues that this is crucial in order to accurately and fairly report on education issues.

“It is important for education journalists to be experts in their field, both in terms of having a deep understanding of the policy and research related to education, but also in terms of the on-the-ground reality of schools and classrooms.”

In conclusion, Alexander Russo believes that education journalism plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of education, but it is an undervalued and underfunded field.

He advocates for more resources to be dedicated to education journalism and for journalists covering the topic to be experts in their field in order to report on education issues accurately and fairly.

The AI description of my views is basic and a bit generic, but still captures many of the main themes and insights that you might expect to see.