Hacks replaced by computers

[Alpine]

At least the spelling is rite

A US business information outfit has replaced some of the tasks done by its journalists with computers.


Thomson Financial, which has been using computers to generate some stories since March, wants to extend the work they do.

Apparently the computer can turn around an earnings story within 0.3 seconds of the company making results public. Of course that sounds fast but since hacks usually get reports a few days in advance, writing it for an embargoed deadline and pressing "send" is just as fast.

But hacks need not worry too much. The software just goes through press releases and reports and turns them into newspeak.A computer cannot ring people up and ask them searching questions.

If applied to the IT press, it will kill off all those who cut and paste press releases and stick their byline on the top. Even in the US, where there is a perception that long rambling introductions about what the hack did in their holidays before getting to the news is 'good writing', a computer will never replace the hack. A Thomson executive told the Financial Times it means the outfit can free up reporters so they 'have more time to think' [go to the pub shorely. Ed].


The INQuirer