Core Viewpoint - The emergence of AI poses significant challenges to the media industry, prompting a reevaluation of the value and role of journalists in the face of technological advancements [1][2]. Group 1: The Impact of AI on Journalism - AI can access information quickly but cannot replace the on-site presence of journalists, which is essential for authentic news reporting [3][4]. - The essence of journalism remains unchanged despite technological evolution; it is still about the pursuit of truth and the faithful documentation of history [2][4]. - Journalists are urged to return to the field to capture the human experience and emotions that AI cannot replicate, emphasizing the importance of firsthand accounts [3][4]. Group 2: The Role of Journalists in the AI Era - The responsibility of journalists is highlighted as a key differentiator from AI, as they must remain accountable to their work and the society they serve [4][5]. - AI is seen as a tool that empowers journalists by freeing them from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on critical insights and professional judgment [5][6]. - Embracing AI should not lead to a loss of identity for journalists; instead, it should enhance their value and professional capabilities [5][6]. Group 3: The Future of Journalism - The relationship between AI and journalism is framed as one of collaboration rather than replacement, with AI serving as a bridge to enhance the return to core journalistic values [4][5]. - The current era is characterized as a better time for journalism, where the true heroism lies in maintaining passion for the profession despite the challenges posed by AI [5][6]. - The call to action for journalists is to navigate the technological landscape with a strong sense of professional integrity and purpose [5][6].

Core Viewpoint - The article analyzes the changes in the news and media industry from a macro perspective, emphasizing that the essence of media is content, regardless of the era, whether traditional or internet-based [1]. Group 1: Types of Content - Content can be categorized into three types: serious professional news, conversational news, and non-news content. Serious professional news includes finance, technology, and public policy, represented by entities like Bloomberg, but it has a high understanding threshold and limited consumer base [2]. - Conversational news, which includes social news and entertainment news, has a lower understanding threshold and satisfies public curiosity, making it a staple in content consumption from traditional to internet media [3]. - Non-news content encompasses various forms such as films, literary works, and entertainment programs, which often dominate media offerings due to their broad appeal and lower production costs [4][5]. Group 2: Historical Context and Media Dynamics - The traditional media era was characterized by a "golden age" for institutional media, where media outlets relied heavily on non-news content for revenue, despite being classified as news organizations [6][7]. - The internet has disrupted this model by decoupling media licenses from content distribution, shifting the power to platforms like WeChat and Douyin, which now serve as primary content containers [8][9]. Group 3: Challenges in the Internet Era - The internet has significantly reduced the physical costs of content distribution, allowing anyone to become a media producer, which poses a challenge to traditional media institutions [9]. - The production of conversational news has increasingly moved away from institutional media, with independent creators often outperforming traditional outlets in both quality and engagement [10]. - The shift to a decentralized distribution model has led to a situation where high-traffic content overshadows lower-traffic news, exacerbating the challenges faced by serious professional news [11][12]. Group 4: Market Dynamics and Content Consumption - The article highlights that even in the pre-internet era, serious professional news constituted a small fraction of overall media content, with non-news content being essential for media's mass appeal [13]. - The disparity in revenue between non-news and news content has widened, reflecting market mechanisms and consumer preferences for more engaging, less formal content [14].

Group 1 - The article discusses the changing landscape of the news media industry, emphasizing the shift from traditional media to internet platforms and the implications for content production and consumption [2][10][12] - It categorizes content into three types: serious professional news, conversational news, and non-news content, highlighting that the demand for non-news content surpasses that for serious news [4][5][6][7] - The traditional media era was characterized by a reliance on physical distribution channels, which has been disrupted by the internet, leading to a decoupling of media licenses and content distribution [8][10][11] Group 2 - The article notes that the revenue model for news organizations has shifted, as they can no longer monetize non-news content effectively, leading to a focus solely on news revenue [11][12] - It highlights the challenges faced by traditional media in producing conversational news, as the rise of social media has changed how news is reported and consumed [13][14] - The piece argues that the perception of a "golden age" for news media is misleading, as the majority of revenue historically came from non-news content, and this trend has only intensified in the current landscape [17][18]