Mohammad Muslim Bhat
A newspaper has always been a bridge between information and people. It talks directly to students, workers, elders, and readers from all walks of life. The strength of a newspaper is in its clarity. A reader should be able to read an article without having a dictionary next to him or her. However, in today’s world, many readers feel as if they are reading something from a distance. The articles seem well-crafted but still it feels distant. The sentences seem flawless but hard. The cause of this problem is the growing use of artificial intelligence in writing.
Artificial intelligence has invaded newsrooms around the world. Writers use it for write opinion pieces. Technology has made writing easier than ever before. A news story that took hours to write now takes minutes. For newsrooms that are busy and have deadlines to meet, this is a godsend. However, with increased speed comes a loss of something else which is human connection.
Many AI generated articles use complex vocabulary and long sentences. The structure looks academic rather than conversational. Words are arranged correctly, yet they fail to speak directly to readers. A common reader wants understanding, not display of languages. When language becomes complicated, the message gets lost.
A newspaper is not a research journal. A newspaper is for the public. In nations such as India, newspapers are read by people with different levels of education. A farmer reading the news in the morning, a student studying for exams, and a shopkeeper scanning headlines deserve better. When news is written in complex terms, it silently excludes many readers.
Technology is not the problem. AI is a technological advancement. Its application depends on human use, same like all technology. Large databases containing official reports, professional publications, and academic writing are used to train artificial intelligence. As a result, AI’s natural voice is formal and complex. This voice is translated into newspapers in its original form without any changes.
Readers can sense the difference. Human writing is full of emotion and experience. A person who has walked through busy streets, talked to people, or felt the effects of an issue writes differently. They select words influenced by reality. AI predicts words from patterns. It does not have experiences. It copies expression but cannot feel urgency, empathy, or cultural richness.
Think about how a human journalist would write about a flood. They might talk about the quiet that followed the end of the rain, the smell of moist earth, or the fear in people’s eyes. These are all ways to connect the reader to the story. The AI usually concentrates on the numbers and organized explanations. The facts are still true, but the human element is lost.
Another problem is that of accessibility. Journalism has always been the effort to inform the masses. Using simple language does not mean that the writing is weak. In fact, the best writers in history used simplicity as a strength. Straightforward sentences are a sign of respect for the reader’s time and attention. When articles become hard to read, the readers stop reading. Some people stop reading the newspaper altogether and turn to bite-sized pieces of information on social media sites instead. This is a problem for serious journalism.
Students and young writers are also confused. They read complicated articles influenced by AI and think that good writing is complicated. They start imitating difficult words rather than mastering simplicity. Eventually, writing becomes performing rather than communicating. This is detrimental to the future of journalism. Editors are also important in resolving this problem. AI-written drafts should never be final versions. They should be only the beginning. Human editors have to rephrase language, condense sentences, and make them flow naturally. Journalism requires human insight to determine which words are really good for readers.
Journalists should also not forget their role. Writing is not about showing off intelligence. It is about sharing knowledge. A good article can explain complicated concepts in simple language. If a reader learns more about a problem after reading an article, the journalist has done his or her job. There is also an ethical side to this problem. Readers trust newspapers. They believe that articles contain human thoughts and thorough reporting. Over Reliance on AI technology may undermine this trust.
However, AI also provides helpful assistance if used correctly. It can assist in organizing information, grammar correction, and research. It can also help writers meet deadlines. For smaller regional newspapers, AI can be helpful in reducing workload. The trick is in finding a balance. Efficiency should not mean losing authenticity. The future of journalism is in finding a balance between human storytelling and technology. Newspapers should not forget why readers read every morning. Readers are looking for understanding, connection, and insight. They are looking for stories that speak in a familiar language. They are looking for writers who speak like human beings, not computers.
Young writers and students have a crucial task in this regard. They can bring back reader-friendly language. They can write in an honest and simple manner. They can show that simplicity touches more hearts than complexity ever will. Language is more than words. It is culture, emotion, and identity. When writing becomes too mechanical, it loses its warmth. The warmth of writing must be preserved in journalism. Technology will advance, but the voice of humanity must be in the forefront.
A good newspaper article must be like a conversation with society. It must inform without frightening. It must be educated without confusion. Most of all, it must treat every reader with respect, regardless of education or background. The increasing use of AI in journalism is not a problem, but it is a warning sign. If newspapers become too dependent on language generated by machines, they will surely lose touch with society. The answer is simple and profound. Let technology be a help, but keep human beings in control of the narrative.
Words have the power to define how people perceive the world. When words become too abstract, understanding suffers. Journalism must go back to its roots: simple language, human wisdom, and real communication. Only then will newspapers continue to be of service to the people they were meant to serve and made for.
Writer is a student and columnist and can be reached at mdmuslimbhat@gmail.com
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