This year taught me a powerful lesson: official stats often hide harsh realities. For instance, in Tripura, where over 86% of households supposedly have tap water, I found tribal women still climbing steep hills to fetch clean water from springs. Their taps either lack proper connections or deliver contaminated water.
My experiences reinforce a vital truth: environmental journalism can’t rely on algorithms or government reports alone. We must go into communities to verify facts and make sure the voices of vulnerable people aren’t lost in the numbers.
In today’s world, misinformation spreads rapidly through social media and messaging apps. To counter this, media outlets need to invest in grassroots reporting. Many important stories remain untold because the facts haven’t reached the right places.
AI is becoming a big player in newsrooms, often producing content at lightning speed without human involvement. While I appreciate these advances, it’s crucial to understand AI’s limitations. It primarily reflects the data it has been trained on, which can lead to oversights.
I’m currently participating in a 10-week program with the Google News Initiative to explore how AI can support journalism instead of replacing it. AI offers exciting possibilities, such as analyzing massive data sets and handling tedious tasks, freeing reporters to focus on storytelling.
Yet, there’s a caveat. AI can’t replace the rich, nuanced perspectives that come from real-life experiences. Using AI as our main storyteller risks erasing the true lives of many, especially those who aren’t represented in data. For example, an AI model trained solely on common datasets may miss essential narratives, like those of a rural farmer in Tripura or an Adivasi woman in Kalahandi.
In the end, while we embrace technology, we must commit to maintaining the human touch in journalism. Protecting the stories of the people behind the numbers is essential, ensuring their realities are not lost in the digital shuffle.
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Environment,Algorithm,Frontlines,Fragile Ecology,India,Artificial Intelligence,Grassroots Journalism,Indian Tribals,Jharkhand,Climate Change,Economy,Lived Experiences,Similipal Tiger Reserve,Drinking Water,Politics
