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Veteran Journalist Explores New Routine: AI-Powered Short Videos

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A veteran journalist is using AI tools to create short-form video content from his articles.
  • He uses AI video editing software, Gemini, and other tools to summarize articles, generate visuals, and create AI-powered voiceovers.
  • The journalist sees AI as a tool to expand his capabilities rather than reduce his workload, finding the process engaging and a way to explore new forms of content creation.

At 60, veteran journalist Kwak No-pil is embracing a new routine: transforming his written articles into short-form videos for his YouTube channel, 'Kwak No-pil's Future Window.' This shift began after a conversation with a publisher friend who suggested using AI for book promotion.

Inspired, Kwak delved into creating "shorts," using Gemini as a guide and the AI video editor VREW as his primary tool. VREW allows for aspect ratio adjustments for both long and short-form content. Users input a script, and the AI generates a draft with voiceovers, relevant images, and background music, which the user can then refine. Since February 18, Kwak has produced over 130 shorts, averaging nearly one per day, excluding holidays.

Kwak utilizes a light subscription plan, finding the monthly credits sufficient for his output. He praises VREW's intuitive interface, noting how it efficiently suggests images based on summarized article text. Another journalist, Lee Ju-hyun, has also adopted VREW after observing Kwak's work. Kwak employs VREW's "AI My Voice" feature, which creates a voice clone after a brief initial recording, allowing for AI-generated narration of future scripts in a voice similar to his own.

Because it's fun... I'll try it for about a year.

— Kwak No-pilExplaining his motivation for creating short-form video content in addition to his regular journalistic duties.

While VREW simplifies many aspects, Kwak uses additional tools for downloading and editing video clips from various online sources, always ensuring he respects copyright and properly attributes content. He estimates that creating and editing one short takes about an hour. This new task is in addition to his regular duties of writing and filing articles.

When asked why he undertakes this extra work, Kwak simply replied, "Because it's fun... I'll try it for about a year." He views AI not as a tool to lessen his work, but as one that enables him to do things previously impossible, expanding his professional horizons even if it increases his overall workload.

AI is a tool that allows me to do things I couldn't do before, rather than a tool that makes me work less.

— Kwak No-pilDescribing his perspective on the role of artificial intelligence in his work.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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