Journalism Challenges in the Era of Social Media and AI
Date :
2025-05-07
Department :
International Master's Program in International Communication Studies
【Article by IMICS】
The College of Communication’s International Leadership Courses, “TV News Introduction and Voice Projection”, hosted a special lecture titled Modern International News Production by Mr. Wynne Deng (鄧崴), the Deputy Section Chief of the International News Center from SET News Channel, SETN (三立新聞台), at National Chengchi University on May 5, 2025. The guest lecture addressed the challenges of producing international news in the age of social media and generative AI.
Mr. Deng shared that the late-2019 pandemic outbreak marked a turning point for the news media industry. Traditional news outlets used to publish their content online only after it had aired on television. However, as people increasingly rely on social media for information, news production now considers the characteristics of social media platforms and user habits to capture public attention better.
“One of the prominent features of social media would be algorithms, as it redefined the way people perceived the idea of news,” said Mr. Deng, the news anchor of SET News.
Mr. Deng explained that news was traditionally meant to be timely, as people would tune in to find out what had happened that day. However, with the rise of social media algorithms, users are now often shown content based on their interests or engagement patterns rather than recency. As a result, algorithms have started to influence the headlines chosen for online news to reach the public more effectively.
“Other than the headlines, the content can vary depending on the media platform. For instance, a TV news segment, a TikTok video, and an Instagram Story would each present the same event in very different ways,” said Mr. Deng, also the TV host of the news program iExpress (國際特快車).
Mr. Deng further elaborated that the differences between media platforms often lie in how the content is presented, specifically in the angle of presentation, the duration, and the level of emotional appeal. A TV news segment might focus on its political impact, while a TikTok video highlights a dramatic moment to catch attention. TV reports tend to be longer, whereas TikTok and Instagram Stories are short and fast-paced. In terms of emotional appeal, TV news remains neutral, while social media often uses music and captions to create a stronger emotional impact.
He highlighted that the fast-paced nature of social media increases the risk of misinformation due to AI-generated images and videos. It is important for journalists to strengthen their fact-checking skills and rely on trustworthy sources, including major news outlets and official statements. Mr. Deng pointed to a recent example involving the Myanmar earthquake, where a viral video shared across social media was later revealed to be AI-generated composites and scenes from films, because Myanmar prohibits the use of drones. Mr. Deng emphasized that having a deeper understanding of cultural context in different countries can help journalists better identify misleading content and avoid reporting errors.
Mr. Deng also encouraged students aspiring to enter journalism to cultivate empathy, sharpen their fact-checking skills, and develop the ability to handle multiple platforms. These skills are important in adapting to the demands of modern news production.
The talk was moderated by Lecturer Kiki Wang Mon-Chi and attended by over 20 local and international students.
The College of Communication’s International Leadership Courses, “TV News Introduction and Voice Projection”, hosted a special lecture titled Modern International News Production by Mr. Wynne Deng (鄧崴), the Deputy Section Chief of the International News Center from SET News Channel, SETN (三立新聞台), at National Chengchi University on May 5, 2025. The guest lecture addressed the challenges of producing international news in the age of social media and generative AI.
Mr. Deng shared that the late-2019 pandemic outbreak marked a turning point for the news media industry. Traditional news outlets used to publish their content online only after it had aired on television. However, as people increasingly rely on social media for information, news production now considers the characteristics of social media platforms and user habits to capture public attention better.
“One of the prominent features of social media would be algorithms, as it redefined the way people perceived the idea of news,” said Mr. Deng, the news anchor of SET News.
Mr. Deng explained that news was traditionally meant to be timely, as people would tune in to find out what had happened that day. However, with the rise of social media algorithms, users are now often shown content based on their interests or engagement patterns rather than recency. As a result, algorithms have started to influence the headlines chosen for online news to reach the public more effectively.
“Other than the headlines, the content can vary depending on the media platform. For instance, a TV news segment, a TikTok video, and an Instagram Story would each present the same event in very different ways,” said Mr. Deng, also the TV host of the news program iExpress (國際特快車).
Mr. Deng further elaborated that the differences between media platforms often lie in how the content is presented, specifically in the angle of presentation, the duration, and the level of emotional appeal. A TV news segment might focus on its political impact, while a TikTok video highlights a dramatic moment to catch attention. TV reports tend to be longer, whereas TikTok and Instagram Stories are short and fast-paced. In terms of emotional appeal, TV news remains neutral, while social media often uses music and captions to create a stronger emotional impact.
He highlighted that the fast-paced nature of social media increases the risk of misinformation due to AI-generated images and videos. It is important for journalists to strengthen their fact-checking skills and rely on trustworthy sources, including major news outlets and official statements. Mr. Deng pointed to a recent example involving the Myanmar earthquake, where a viral video shared across social media was later revealed to be AI-generated composites and scenes from films, because Myanmar prohibits the use of drones. Mr. Deng emphasized that having a deeper understanding of cultural context in different countries can help journalists better identify misleading content and avoid reporting errors.
Mr. Deng also encouraged students aspiring to enter journalism to cultivate empathy, sharpen their fact-checking skills, and develop the ability to handle multiple platforms. These skills are important in adapting to the demands of modern news production.
The talk was moderated by Lecturer Kiki Wang Mon-Chi and attended by over 20 local and international students.