Automation

In news production and journalism, automation can be divided into three broad areas: newspaper automation, in the area of layout and printing technology; broadcast automation, in the area of live directing and playback; and research/writing automation, in the area of news wire services and software for newsroom writing, collaboration, and editing. There has been a progression of convergence between these three aspects of automation as the technology of printing, broadcasting, and newsgathering continues to move further into electronic digital platforms, and older analog or physical formats become obsolete or artisanal. This entry discusses the origins and evolution of automation in the news industry, the implementation of automation in newsrooms, and uses of automation in the contemporary news industry.