AI Prompts for Journalists and Writers
Use AI to research faster, overcome writer's block, and produce more content without sacrificing quality.
AI Prompts for Journalists and Writers
Journalists and professional writers face constant deadlines, research demands, and the pressure to produce original, well-crafted work. AI is a research assistant, thinking partner, and first-draft engine — never a replacement for your voice and judgement.
How Journalists and Writers Use AI
Research and ideation
- Generate story angles and headline options to choose from
- Summarise long documents, reports, and research papers
- Create interview question lists for any subject
Writing and editing
- Overcome writer's block with AI-generated outlines and openings
- Get structural feedback on drafts
- Rephrase sentences for clarity or concision
Productivity
- Write pitch emails to editors quickly
- Summarise interviews and transcripts into key themes
- Draft social media posts to promote your published work
Example Prompts
Story angles
I am writing about [TOPIC]. Generate 10 different story angles — from hard news to feature to opinion — that a journalist could take on this subject. Make each distinct in tone and focus.
Interview questions
Create 20 interview questions for [SUBJECT, e.g. a climate scientist / a former CEO / a whistleblower]. Mix background questions, specific topic questions, and challenging follow-ups. Avoid yes/no questions.
Article outline
Create a detailed outline for a 1,500-word [ARTICLE TYPE, e.g. investigative feature / explainer / profile] on [TOPIC]. Include: headline options, intro approach, 4-5 main sections with key points, and a closing device.
Getting Started
Use AI for research prep and outlines — the parts of writing that take time but do not require your unique voice. Save your creative energy for the writing itself, where your perspective matters most.