The sports daily SPORT, published by Ediciones Deportivas Catalanas, S.A.U., is currently developing a project named ESCRIBA to integrate artificial intelligence into the production workflow of its print edition. Supported by public funding under the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, the initiative seeks to streamline the technical processes required to adapt digital news content for a physical newspaper layout.
As newsrooms shift toward digital-first models, the challenge of maintaining a high-quality print product remains significant. For a publication like SPORT, where the sports agenda evolves rapidly, the project aims to bridge the gap between real-time web updates and the structured, hierarchical requirements of a printed page. According to the publisher, the goal is to enhance operational efficiency without compromising the editorial identity or visual standards of the newspaper.
Integrating AI into the Editorial Workflow
The ESCRIBA project focuses on the practical application of AI to assist in the layout and organization of print content. Finalizing a newspaper edition is a process defined by space constraints, visual balance, and strict deadlines. By utilizing intelligent assistance, the publication aims to automate or simplify the preparation of materials, such as adjusting text flows and organizing visual components that have already been curated for digital platforms.
The initiative is funded through grants specifically designed to integrate AI into the value chains of media companies. This funding is part of a broader push under the European Union’s NextGenerationEU recovery strategy, which supports technological transformation across various sectors. In the context of SPORT, the project is framed not as a replacement for human editors, but as a tool to reduce the operational friction involved in the transition from digital to paper.
Maintaining Editorial Control
A central tenet of the ESCRIBA project is the preservation of human oversight. The publisher emphasizes that while AI can provide proposals for page layout or content organization, the final decisions remain with the editorial staff. This distinction is critical in a newsroom environment where editorial judgment, knowledge of the audience, and the ability to interpret the importance of breaking sports news are essential.
The technology is intended to assist in the “editorial closing” process, where content must be quickly organized to meet print deadlines. By offloading mechanical tasks—such as formatting adjustments or initial layout proposals—to AI, the editorial team can dedicate more time to the high-level decisions that define the newspaper’s voice. The project is currently in a phase of analysis and validation to ensure that the AI tools align with the specific editorial parameters of the publication.
Future Developments and Industry Impact
The development of ESCRIBA reflects a growing trend among legacy media outlets to modernize their production chains. By utilizing public grants managed by Spain’s Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, the newspaper is exploring how to maintain the viability of print editions in an increasingly digital landscape. The project serves as a case study for how media organizations can leverage emerging technologies to sustain traditional formats while optimizing their internal resources.
As the initiative progresses, the publisher expects to assess the utility of these AI tools within its actual production workflow. The focus remains on whether the technology can effectively reduce the workload during intense news cycles without altering the visual and informational coherence that readers expect from the brand. Further updates on the practical outcomes of the ESCRIBA project are expected as the integration process continues to evolve.
Readers interested in the ongoing transformation of media production can follow official updates regarding the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan on the government’s portal. We invite readers to share their thoughts on the role of AI in newsrooms in the comments section below.