Revolutionizing Local News: Jay Allred on AI, Automation, and the Future of Journalism

Navigating the AI Evolution in Local Journalism with Jay Allred In this episode of the 'AI as Your Teammate' podcast, Evan speaks with Jay Allred, president and CEO of Source Media Group and a pioneer in integrating AI into media. They discuss the early identification of declining local news, transitioning to digital media in 2013, and the automation of time-consuming tasks like obituary management using AI. Jay shares insights from his experience at South by Southwest in 2015, the resistance faced within legacy organizations, and the importance of thoughtful deployment of AI tools. They also highlight the pivotal role of fostering a culture that embraces innovation and the potential future impact of AI on various business processes. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:02 Early Days of AI in Media 04:51 Challenges in Local News and Media 09:36 Adopting AI in Newsrooms 25:51 Automation in Obituary Publishing 36:43 Reflections and Lessons Learned