How over is it?

A mood ring wired to real instruments

AI exposure Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media

Will AI replace journalists?

News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists. US occupation 27-3023.

21.0%

of the time journalists spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of journalists' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 113 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 84% of them.Further along than 84% of them.

Average US job 7.7%

Well above the typical job.Ahead of most of the workforce.

What AI already does for journalistsWhat journalists no longer do alone

O*NET lists 30 tasks for journalists. AI use at work shows up in 4 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.

  1. Analyze and interpret news and information received from various sources to broadcast the information.Core task mostly automated 0.97
  2. Select material most pertinent to presentation, and organize this material into appropriate formats.Core task mostly automated 0.90
  3. Check reference materials, such as books, news files, or public records, to obtain relevant facts.Core task mostly automated 0.89
  4. Revise work to meet editorial approval or to fit time or space requirements.Core task automated and assisted 0.83

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

26 of the 30 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Arrange interviews with people who can provide information about a story.Core task
  • Communicate with readers, viewers, advertisers, or the general public via mail, email, or telephone.Core task
  • Conduct taped or filmed interviews or narratives.Core task
  • Determine a published or broadcasted story's emphasis, length, and format, organizing material accordingly.Core task
  • Develop ideas or material for columns or commentaries by analyzing and interpreting news, current issues, or personal experiences.Core task
  • Discuss issues with editors to establish priorities or positions.Core task
Show the other 20
  • Establish and maintain relationships with individuals who are credible sources of information.Core task
  • Examine news items of local, national, and international significance to determine topics to address, or obtain assignments from editorial staff members.Core task
  • Gather information and develop perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience.Core task
  • Investigate breaking news developments, such as disasters, crimes, or human-interest stories.Core task
  • Photograph or videotape news events.Core task
  • Receive assignments or evaluate leads or tips to develop story ideas.Core task
  • Report news stories for publication or broadcast, describing the background and details of events.Core task
  • Report on specialized fields such as medicine, green technology, environmental issues, science, politics, sports, arts, consumer affairs, business, religion, crime, or education.Core task
  • Research a story's background information to provide complete and accurate information.Core task
  • Review and evaluate notes taken about news events to isolate pertinent facts and details.Core task
  • Review written, audio, or video copy, and correct errors in content, grammar, or punctuation, following prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines.Core task
  • Take pictures or video, and process them for inclusion in a story.Core task
  • Transmit news stories or reporting information from remote locations, using equipment such as satellite phones, telephones, fax machines, or modems.Core task
  • Write columns, editorials, commentaries, or reviews that interpret events or offer opinions.Core task
  • Write commentaries, columns, or scripts, using computers.Core task
  • Write online blog entries that address news developments or offer additional information, opinions, or commentary on news events.Core task
  • Assign stories to other reporters or duties to production staff.
  • Coordinate and serve as an anchor on news broadcast programs.
  • Present live or recorded commentary via broadcast media.
  • Present news stories, and introduce in-depth videotaped segments or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters.

How that compares

Among the 34 arts, design, entertainment, sports and media occupations, journalists rank 12. The group averages 14.2%, and its most exposed job is Technical Writers at 47.5%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Just above in the ranking

  1. 111Communications Teachers, Postsecondary 21.1%
  2. 111Statisticians 21.1%
  3. 113Art Directors 21.0%

Just below

  1. 115Counter and Rental Clerks 20.5%
  2. 116Food Science Technicians 20.4%
  3. 117Librarians and Media Collections Specialists 20.3%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.