Steve Rushin opined in the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated about an online site called StatSheet whose computer algorithms are able to transform game statistics into readable stories (for example, here's the StatSheet Fresno State page documenting recent basketball games).
As you might expect, there are fears profit-starved newspapers will chase automation over experienced feet on the street. But as Rushin rightly points out, if you're a journalist worried about robots, you have bigger problems. Rushin wrote:
"There are two ways sportswriters can respond. We can do nothing and hope that our human prose is seen as a quaint, retro piece of ballpark embroidery, like the Wrigley Field scoreboard or the NFL chain gang, both of which are kept around to humor nostalgia buffs.
"Or we can try to vanquish our robot doppelgänger. [StatSheet CEO Robbie] Allen says the robot is doing us a service, 'writing the kind of stories you probably don't like writing anyway.' "
Exactly.
Good journalists give readers depth and detail far beyond the stats. They paint a 3D picture, making you feel like you were there. Bill Plaschke of the LA Times is among the best, moreso because he often delivers brilliant pieces of writing on tight deadlines. He brings unique value to his work, which people actively seek out and buy. In an age of ever-growing content sources, he stands tall because he's passionate, observant, clever and knowledgeable.
So, think back to the robots at StatSheet. If you're just dumping numbers into your story and stating the facts and going through the motions instead of tapping your expertise and your proximity and, frankly, your passion, what really are you doing?
I'll tell you: You're wasting my time and your time, which is an equation with bad math for media companies trying to stay ahead of nimble competitors, let alone robots.
So, do something about it before someone -- or something -- takes the choice out of your hands.
One of my favorite jokes goes something like this:
Man: "Doctor, my arm hurts hurts when I raise my arm!"
Doctor: "So don't raise your arm."
Ba da boom! Yeah, it's a silly joke that I probably first heard in the second grade. But there's a lesson there: Mediocrity breeds the obvious.
Don't be mediocre and don't be obvious. Be passionate and insightful and creative. Be valuable.