The roar of the Goss Metroliner Press still echoes in my memory, a mechanical symphony that could churn out up to 60 000 newspapers an hour, or 120 000 in double folder configuration.

Watching that beast in action was nothing short of mesmerising, a ballet of gears, ink, and precision that brought stories to life on newsprint.

For 26 years, I worked in the production trenches of the newspaper industry, starting as a press operator to manager of pre-press and press operations. While our colleagues in the newsroom chased scoops and crafted headlines, my teams ensured those stories were printed, folded, and delivered to doorsteps on time.

I witnessed the industry’s seismic shift from hot metal, wax and film to digital workflows. Now, as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes journalism, I see familiar patterns of transformation, and bold new possibilities.

Dawn of AI in journalism

AI is no longer a futuristic concept in journalism, it is a present reality, revolutionising how news is created, edited, and distributed. In newsrooms, algorithms now generate entire stories, financial reports, sports roundups, and weather updates, at a speed and accuracy that rival human writers.

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These systems analyse vast datasets, identify patterns, and produce coherent narratives in seconds, freeing journalists to focus on investigative work or in-depth analysis.

But AI’s influence extends far beyond the newsroom, reaching into the very machinery of production where I spent a considerable period of my career. In the pressroom, AI is transforming operations in ways I could only have imagined decades ago.

By analysing reader trends and subscription data, it helps publishers anticipate print demand more accurately, reducing overproduction and waste. It also streamlines press scheduling, allowing algorithms to optimise run times, minimise energy use, and ensure presses operate at peak efficiency. Additionally, AI monitors equipment in real time, enabling predictive maintenance that detects potential faults before they disrupt production, saving both time and costly repairs.

When I started, fine-tuning a press was an art form guided by instinct and experience. We adjusted ink flow or plate alignment for “register” by hand, relying on years of skill to get it right. Today, AI-driven systems handle these tasks with precision, using data to make real-time adjustments. It is a new kind of workmanship, one rooted in algorithms rather than gut feeling.

Disruption beyond press room

Even as AI breathes new life into newspaper production, the industry is grappling with deeper shifts triggered by the rise of digital media. The widespread adoption of online platforms has dealt a heavy blow to print-based media products. With audiences increasingly consuming news on mobile devices and social media, circulation figures have plummeted. This, in turn, has led to a steep decline in advertising revenue, the lifeblood of traditional newspapers.

The ripple effect has been felt throughout the printing press manufacturing industry. The demand for large, high-speed presses that once dominated the sector has fallen sharply.

Many of the iconic machines, massive, roaring behemoths such as the Metroliner, are being phased out and replaced by smaller, more agile presses that can handle lower volumes and faster changeovers. These newer machines suit a landscape where print runs are leaner and more targeted.

Economic pressure and falling volumes have also prompted many publishing houses to rethink their printing strategies. Rather than maintaining individual press operations at each title, companies are consolidating printing into centralised hubs. These shared facilities serve multiple newspaper brands under one roof, optimising efficiency and reducing overheads. While this shift makes business sense, it has also led to job losses and the closure of once-thriving print departments across the country.

In this context, AI offers a lifeline, allowing consolidated print hubs to operate with minimal waste, smarter logistics, and greater output accuracy. But the shrinking footprint of traditional printing is unmistakable, and part of a broader redefinition of what journalism looks like in the 21st century.

Legacy of transformation

The arrival of AI in journalism echoes the technological leaps I witnessed earlier in my career. In the 1990s, the shift from photomechanical processes to digital platemaking upended production workflows. Wax paste-ups gave way to computer-to-plate systems, and staff had to re-skill or risk obsolescence. Layout artists became digital designers, and press operators learned to navigate software interfaces. It was a challenging, but exhilarating time as we reimagined our roles to keep pace with innovation

Today, AI is driving a similar reinvention. Journalists are no longer just writers; they are data analysts, content strategists, and multimedia producers. In production, my successors are less likely to wield a wrench and more likely to monitor dashboards that track press performance in real time. The question is not whether AI will change roles. It is how we adapt to ensure those roles remain meaningful. Just as we embraced digital tools decades ago, we must now harness AI to enhance, not replace, the human touch.

Efficiency versus ethics

AI’s ability to boost efficiency is undeniable, but it also raises profound ethical questions. When algorithms generate news stories, how do we ensure editorial integrity? Who is accountable when AI-produced content contains errors, biases, or misinformation? And perhaps most critically, can readers distinguish between human crafted journalism and machine-generated copy?

In the pressroom, we maintained a clear chain of custody. Stories flowed from the newsroom to plates, ink, paper, and delivery trucks. Every step was traceable, and accountability was clear. With AI, that transparency is harder to achieve.

Newsrooms must establish rigorous protocols to verify AI-generated content, disclose its use to readers, and guard against biases embedded in the data or algorithms. Without these safeguards, the trust that underpins journalism could erode.

Moreover, AI’s role in content creation challenges the soul of the profession. Journalism is not just about delivering facts; it is about storytelling, context, and human judgment. While AI can process data at scale, it lacks the intuition to uncover a hidden story or the empathy to capture a community’s struggles. The challenge is to use AI as a tool to augment these human strengths, not to supplant them.

 Measured embrace

As with every major wave of innovation, journalism must learn to ride AI with clarity and caution. The technology is powerful, but it must be guided by values, ethics, and human wisdom. We are not just retooling machines, we are redefining our responsibility to inform, reflect, and serve society.

The challenge before us is not simply technical, it is human. And that, more than anything, is where the future of journalism still resides.

  • Bangure is a filmmaker with a media degree and substantial experience in media production and management. He previously served as the chairperson of the National Employment Council for the Printing, Packaging, and Newspaper Industry. A dedicated enthusiast and scholar of artificial intelligence, Bangure combines his creative and technical skills to delve into innovative advancements. — info@hub-edutech.com.
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