By Kirsten Jolly
New Manchester High School
How do you differentiate between artificiality and authentic work, and furthermore how can a line be clearly drawn between the two, if it is impossible to tell where deception began? As a journalist, UGA Graduate Student, Morgan Hardy faces these questions every day, and strives to responds to them with boldness and bravery as she relentlessly pursues truth into the future.
To Hardy, being a journalist is much more than just writing and reporting. It’s understanding, knowing and connecting to the people you are writing about, and representing them in a light that is true to them. “We are real life people,” Hardy declared, while emphasizing the importance of intrapersonal connection as a journalist.
“Put your voice in your writing,”. she stated. Here, she highlights how emotional connection is something that is unique to humans, and can’t be easily replicated by Generative AI, despite implications by some in the journalistic industry.
Hardy’s perspective on this is a breath of fresh air compared to the overwhelming narrative about Generative AI in a contemporary society; as many seem to be disregarding the value of human journalists, and overestimating the capability of artificial intelligence. Hardy continues to discuss struggles she faces while rising in the industry, mainly focusing on the integration of AI into creative fields.
Hardy described how she finds herself to be dissapointed with said integration, as it is being forced upon us, rather than offered as an option. She continues to recognize the danger of that, not only as a journalist, but a youth leader entering the world. Despite the precedent, Hardy drives her own opinion about who (or what) exactly will be leading the next generation of democracy: the talented and inspired youth.
She admires the tenacity and creativity of young journalists, and how they approach tackling difficult topics in unique ways. Hardy specifically recalls her admiration of a certain journalist who captivated her audience by being funny and relatable, before highlighting the deeper issue about the topic she was covering. Hardy explains how she senses a real shift in the industry towards something greater than AI: authentic youth innovation.
As the stakes continue to rise, Morgan Hardy stays set on tackling the tough topics, and approaching them in a sensible, emotional and uniquely human way. Her influence and perspective is something that creates a space where many can feel accommodated for, and understood. As her journey continues to evolve, her voice does as well, stating the things left unsaid, and representing those left unheard.
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