Could AI Save Journalism Via SEO? The Irony Might Be Its Greatest Redemption Story Yet

In a world increasingly defined by artificial intelligence, it’s easy to assume that machines will consume everything in their path - including journalism. But what if we’ve got it all wrong? What if, instead of destroying the news, AI could actually save it?

That idea might sound counterintuitive. The internet’s impact on journalism has been brutal: collapsing ad revenues, shrinking newsrooms, and the erosion of public trust 😣 People like Joshua Rothman have written about how AI could save journalism but mostly it's about how it can help journalists do their jobs (better).

But now AI is transforming the way we discover and consume information (& potentially disrupting traditional SEO) - and in doing so, it might just rewrite journalism’s fate.

The AI Search Shift

With AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s Search Generative Experience becoming common gateways to information, the nature of search is evolving from keyword-based queries to conversation-based answers. This shift means businesses can’t rely on traditional SEO alone. Instead, being “in the news” - i.e. covered by reputable sources - is becoming essential for discoverability.

In other words, earned media might become the new SEO.

The Journalism Resurgence

If (IF!!!) AI prioritizes credible sources to train its models and generate answers, then media coverage regains value. That could mean:

• Renewed demand for original reporting: As AI needs authoritative content to pull from, quality journalism could see a resurgence in licensing value and influence.

• A financial lifeline: If publishers start getting paid for content used to train models (as some deals already suggest), journalism might finally receive compensation matching its societal role.

• (Re-)elevated importance of journalists: In an AI world rife with misinformation, the credibility and verification that journalists provide becomes a premium asset.

The Beautiful Irony

The internet almost killed journalism. But the next phase of the internet - one led by AI -might depend on it to survive. That’s the delicious irony: AI may end up rescuing the very institution its digital ancestors helped dismantle.

It’s not just a narrative twist. It’s a strategic opportunity. Media companies, marketers, and platforms all have a role to play in shaping this future. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll look back at this moment as the beginning of journalism’s great comeback story.