The Future of Local Television, AI, Ownership, and the New Broadcast Frontier

Local television is at a crossroads. We will look at AI already being used in newsrooms and how these tools could reshape both editorial workflows and ethical standards. We will discuss the operational, technical and editorial makeup of consolidated newsrooms, the rapid growth of streaming newscasts and other local content, and how it all affects the future job market. We'll also address ownership changes and how these shifts change the way local television has been defined over the years. Moderator: Suzy Smith, Ball State University Panelists: Terry J. Heifetz, Ball State University Michael Brouder, Ball State University Stephen Crews, Gray Television