As artificial intelligence continues to advance, journalists have an exciting opportunity to utilize tools like ChatGPT to enhance their work. ChatGPT is a conversational AI system developed by OpenAI that can understand natural language prompts and generate human-like responses. With thoughtful prompt engineering, journalists can use ChatGPT for research, drafting articles, fact-checking, and more.
In this article, I’ll provide 15 superb prompts that journalists can use with ChatGPT to boost their productivity and take their reporting to the next level. Whether you’re an investigative journalist, beat reporter, or editor, these prompts will give you ideas on how to integrate this powerful technology into your workflow.
Research Prompts
Conducting background research is a crucial first step in the reporting process. Here are some prompts journalists can use to leverage ChatGPT for research:
Get an Overview of an Unfamiliar Topic
- Prompt: “Provide a 500-word overview of [topic]. Include key events, people, statistics, and factors related to this issue. Cite at least 5 reputable sources.”
Generate Story Ideas and Angles
- Prompt: “Suggest 3 potential story ideas related to [event/trend] that would interest readers of [publication]. For each, explain the newsworthiness and proposed angle.”
Surface Public Data and Records
- Prompt: “Find publicly available data and records related to [topic/company]. Provide an analysis of relevant statistics, financial statements, lobbying records, etc. Cite all sources.”
Writing Prompts
Once research is underway, ChatGPT can also assist with drafting stories. Here are some useful writing prompts:
Outline an Investigative Article
- Prompt: “Provide a detailed outline for a 2000-word investigative article on [controversial issue]. Include key points about the background, main allegations, key players, evidence for and against, and outstanding questions. Cite sources.”
Draft a News Article Lead Paragraph
- Prompt: “Write an attention-grabbing 200-word lead paragraph summarizing the key news events from [event] for a general audience. Focus on the 5 W’s.”
Generate Quotes for an Interview
- Prompt: “Act as [expert] who I recently interviewed about [topic]. Provide 3 interesting quotes I could use in my article to support the argument that [thesis].”
Editing Prompts
ChatGPT also has strong potential for editing and fact-checking articles. Some useful prompts include:
Copy Edit an Article
- Prompt: “Copy edit this draft article to fix any spelling, grammar, or AP style issues without changing the meaning or facts.”
Fact Check an Article
- Prompt: “Fact check this article and provide corrections for any factual inaccuracies, questionable claims, or statements requiring additional context or citations.”
Recommend Additional Sources
- Prompt: “Review this draft article on [topic] and recommend 5 additional high-quality sources I should consider adding or citing to strengthen the reporting.”
Helpful Resources
To learn more about using ChatGPT for journalism, check out these helpful sites:
Conclusion
ChatGPT presents exciting opportunities for journalists to enhance their workflows. With thoughtful prompt engineering focused on research, writing, editing, and fact-checking, reporters can use AI to uncover stories, draft articles, and meet deadlines. Pay close attention to accuracy, ethics, and citations when using this emerging technology. I hope these 15 prompts spark ideas to help you incorporate ChatGPT into your journalistic process!
Citations:
[1] https://muckrack.com/blog/2023/05/03/ai-prompts-for-better-pitching
[2] https://writesonic.com/blog/chatgpt-prompts
[3] https://community.openai.com/t/the-art-of-ai-prompt-crafting-a-comprehensive-guide-for-enthusiasts/495144
[4] https://formidableforms.com/ai-prompt-examples/
[5] https://www.semrush.com/blog/chatgpt-prompts/
[6] https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/ai-prompt-engineering
[7] https://institute.aljazeera.net/en/ajr/article/2247
[8] https://growthtribe.io/blog/chatgpt-prompts
[9] https://huit.harvard.edu/news/ai-prompts
[10] https://sproutsocial.com/insights/ai-prompt/
[11] https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/06/25/getting-the-most-out-of-chatgpt-these-are-the-most-useful-prompts-to-try-now
[12] https://ai.plainenglish.io/mastering-the-art-of-prompt-crafting-a-comprehensive-guide-to-prompt-techniques-in-ai-language-b5465ed51892?gi=9336bba97d23
[13] https://www.bizway.io/blog/chatgpt-prompts-for-journalists
[14] https://blog.hootsuite.com/chatgpt-prompts/
[15] https://www.promptingguide.ai/techniques
[16] https://dittoepr.com/ai-considerations-chatgpt-prompts-for-pr-social-media-professionals-2/
[17] https://github.com/f/awesome-chatgpt-prompts
[18] https://www.metricmarketing.com/blog/ai-prompting/
[19] https://blog.hootsuite.com/ai-art-prompts/
[20] https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-write-better-chatgpt-prompts/
[21] https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/a-guide-to-smarter-prompts-for-unparalleled-ai-generated-content-1da92426572b?gi=6b9e942949b9
[22] https://prowly.com/magazine/best-chatgpt-prompts-for-public-relations/
[23] https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/06/12/the-best-prompts-to-show-off-the-mind-blowing-capabilities-of-chatgpt/
[24] https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/tip/Prompt-engineering-tips-and-best-practices