From now on, French- and English-speaking subscribers can also read all Flows’ news in their own language. We launched a French and an English website that, based on AI, automatically translates the journalistic work of our journalists, thus increasing its reach.
Today, you know Flows as the Dutch-language online news platform for the maritime and broad logistics sector. As a trade magazine, we report independently and expertly on facts, developments and people in shipping, freight transport, ports, customs and logistics. Flows brings that news from a Flemish perspective, but with a broad view of international business.
Increasingly, we see that our coverage is also picked up internationally, and we often receive requests for translations. We frequently cover people and topics that also have an international impact. That is why Flows launcheda website in French and English during the last AntwerpXL breakbulk fair.
Journalism
For translations into French and English, publisher ProMedia uses a high-performance translation system based on artificial intelligence (AI). After an extensive test phase, that system was deemed good enough for automatic translation, with the system also learning itself, for example for jargon terms. Flows subscribers can access the website in the various languages.
Of course, the article that is translated remains the work of a professional Flows journalist. It is that basic journalistic text that the translation engine will work with, translating into French and English. We are convinced that by deploying this new technology, we can be even more relevant with Flows and greatly expand our reach.
Media landscape
Since its inception 10 years ago, the media landscape has evolved considerably. Not only do we now live in a world where everyone has access to an inexhaustible source of information, but at the same time it is harder than ever to find your way in that sea of information. Technological evolution also enables anyone to have entire texts written by AI based on a few terms.
The need for specialised professional journalism is therefore greater than ever. With Flows, we would like to keep you on track by focusing on facts and trends, and we want to bring together for you the information you need. We strongly believe in the potential of new technology and are using it to strengthen Flows and extend our reach. However, artificial intelligence will not be able to replace any journalist, the automatic translations are purely supplementary.
Therefore, Flows’ coverage is and will always be the work of professional journalists with a sharp focus on one or more sectors and actors in the broad landscape of commodity flows. People of flesh and blood.
