Undisclosed AI Drafting in Newsrooms

Updated: 2025.09.20 1M ago 3 sources
A large outlet reportedly told its journalists they can use AI to create first drafts and suggested readers won’t be told when AI was used. Treating AI as 'like any other tool' collapses a bright line between human-authored news and machine-assisted copy. This sets a precedent others may follow under deadline and cost pressure. — If undisclosed AI becomes normal in journalism, trust, accountability, and industry standards for labeling and corrections will need rapid redefinition.

Sources

Librarians Are Being Asked To Find AI-Hallucinated Books
msmash 2025.09.20 80% relevant
The Chicago Sun‑Times and Philadelphia Inquirer published AI‑generated reading lists via a freelancer without verification, paralleling the concern that outlets are using AI behind the scenes and eroding trust when errors (here, nonexistent books) enter print.
AI Tool Detects LLM-Generated Text in Research Papers and Peer Reviews
msmash 2025.09.19 56% relevant
Like newsrooms quietly using AI without labeling, AACR found fewer than 25% of authors disclosed AI use despite a mandate, while 23% of 2024 abstracts and 5% of peer reviews likely contained LLM text—showing undisclosed AI authorship spreading to science.
Business Insider Reportedly Tells Journalists They Can Use AI To Draft Stories
msmash 2025.09.17 100% relevant
Status reported an internal memo from Business Insider editor-in-chief Jamie Heller authorizing AI for drafting and other tasks without reader notification.
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