【Article By GCIT】
Artificial intelligence is reshaping newsroom workflows, making fact-checking and editorial judgment increasingly important. On October 7, the Master’s Program in Global Communication and Innovation Technology (GCIT) at National Chengchi University (NCCU) welcomed Dimitri Bruyas, Head of the English News Team at TVBS, as a guest lecturer in its Global Digital Branding and Corporate Communication Strategies course. Bruyas shared practical insights into AI-assisted news production and discussed the importance of original reporting, journalistic ethics and human oversight.
With more than 20 years in Taiwan’s media industry spanning English-language newspapers, digital media and television news, Bruyas said that while AI can substantially increase news output, audiences have limited time and attention. AI-generated search summaries may also let readers get answers without visiting news websites, hurting media traffic and advertising revenue. “We don’t lack content. We lack content quality,” he said. Bruyas emphasized that firsthand reporting, exclusive data and on-the-ground observation remain a news organization’s core competitive advantage. Using TVBS’s in-house polling as an example, he explained how journalists can compare historical findings with current results to track shifts in public opinion and develop distinctive reporting angles.
To illustrate how careful observation can lead to original reporting, Bruyas recounted an experience from the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that after noticing “Made in Taiwan” markings on masks donated by Taiwan, he anticipated that they might appear in public photographs of prominent international figures. He then enlarged photographs from the White House, identified the markings on masks worn by officials, and developed a news report from that observation. He used the example to highlight the importance of anticipating developments, noticing details and persistently verifying information.
Discussing the division of responsibilities between journalists and AI, Bruyas urged students to “be the supervisor of AI and let AI do the hard work.” Using a “red box” metaphor to describe boundaries for AI use, he recommended defining permitted sources, writing standards, and the scope of revisions before assigning tasks such as interview transcription, information organization, and editing, then reviewing the output at each stage. He also encouraged students to write their own first drafts before using AI for revisions and to require the tool to explain its changes. He stressed that journalists remain accountable for the final content. Responding to students’ questions about the credibility of AI-generated information, he advised consulting original sources and cross-checking them against audiovisual records and the context of events, rather than relying solely on AI-generated answers.
Patrick Lin, an Adjunct Assistant Professor-Level Technical Expert at GCIT and the course instructor, said: “We invite experienced industry professionals from a range of fields to share firsthand insights and bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry practice. This lecture shows why fact-checking, storytelling quality, and responsible AI use matter beyond journalism. They help shape how others perceive us as professionals. Together with accountability and integrity, these practices form the foundation of a credible personal brand and lasting trust.”
【全球傳播與創新科技碩士學位學程獲文化部與教育部高等教育深耕計畫補助。】