Nepal, Aug. 17 -- Who decides what becomes news today? Principally, journalists and editors play the central role in deciding which events and issues deserve public attention. But the process is changing now. The news we see, read and engage with is being increasingly shaped by forces beyond the newsroom. This shift raises a question: Who, or what, is now influencing the news production process and overall news agenda?

Algorithms at present influence every stage of news production, distribution and consumption. For example, many newsrooms globally use AI and algorithms to identify potential news stories even before journalists start collecting information. A number of newsrooms use tools like Slack-based newsbots to help journalists iden...