Why Media Sites Should Have Their Own Chatbots ($ paywalled)

The Media Copilot Substack - November 12, 2024

The Washington Post is enhancing reader engagement through an innovative AI assistant that offers personalised and interactive experiences, allowing for meaningful dialogue and tailored responses. This shift from traditional "chatbots" to a more sophisticated technology fosters loyalty among users and positions the publication as a leader in utilising AI for deeper connections with its audience.

Read more at Media CoPilot Substack (1 min)

The new skills journalists need in the era of generative AI

Press Gazette - May 20, 2025

As generative AI technologies reshape journalism, educators must equip students with both technical skills and an understanding of the ethical implications of AI tools. This includes teaching effective prompt crafting for Large Language Models and navigating the challenges of accuracy and responsibility in the evolving media landscape.

Read more at Press Gazette (4 mins)

How this year’s Pulitzer awardees used AI in their reporting

Niemanlab - 

For the second year in a row, the Pulitzer Prizes required applicants to disclose their use of artificial intelligence, with one winner and three finalists acknowledging AI's role in their work. This initiative underscores the increasing impact of AI on journalism and creative fields, prompting vital discussions about transparency, ethics, and authenticity in storytelling.

Read more at Niemanlab (1 min)

Media Briefing: Less clicks, more problems: What Google’s AI Mode means for publishers

Digiday - May 22, 2025

Google's recent integration of ads into its AI Mode for search and shopping is raising concerns among publishers, who fear that the trend of "zero-click" searches will further diminish their traffic and ad revenue. As they adapt to this evolving landscape, many are shifting focus from traditional metrics to subscription conversions while grappling with the challenges posed by AI-generated content and declining referral traffic.

Read more at Digiday (9 mins)

News/Media Alliance says Google’s AI takes content 'by force'

Mashable - May 22, 2025

The News/Media Alliance has accused Google of "theft" for its new AI Mode feature in Search, which delivers information directly to users without directing them to publishers' articles, thus harming their traffic and revenue. This criticism echoes a broader concern among major publishers about AI's impact on original content creators, with calls for legislative action to protect their work.

Read more at Mashable (2 mins)

Journalists at Chicago Newspaper "Deeply Disturbed" That "Disaster" AI Slop Was Printed Alongside Their Real Work

Futurism - May 21, 2025

The Chicago Sun-Times faced significant backlash after mistakenly publishing a list of fictitious book titles generated by AI, leading to concerns over misinformation and the integrity of journalism. This incident highlights ongoing tensions in the industry regarding the use of AI in news production and its implications for media credibility and the livelihoods of human journalists.

Read more at Futurism (5 mins)

Fake summer reading list exposes AI threat to journalism

Unherd - 

The Chicago Sun-Times and Philadelphia Inquirer faced backlash after including a controversial book in their summer reading list, prompting accusations of insensitivity from readers. Both newspapers issued apologies and committed to improving their editorial processes, highlighting the importance of thoughtful content curation in media.

Read more at Unherd (1 min)

Journalism's Slop Crisis Started Long Before That AI-Generated Summer Insert

Defector - May 21, 2025

A controversy erupted when the Chicago Sun-Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer published a summer reading list filled with fictitious titles generated by ChatGPT, sparking criticism over editorial standards and quality control. The incident underscores the growing challenge of distinguishing genuine journalism from low-quality, ad-like content in an era where local newspapers struggle to maintain their integrity amidst dwindling resources.

Read more at Defector (8 mins)

Politico’s Newsroom Is Starting a Legal Battle With Management Over AI

WIRED - May 22, 2025

The PEN Guild at Politico is gearing up for a pivotal legal battle over alleged violations of AI provisions in their contract, claiming the company deployed AI tools without proper notice, raising concerns about job impact and ethical standards in journalism. This dispute could establish crucial precedents for journalists' rights regarding AI usage, especially amidst increasing scrutiny of AI-generated content's accuracy and oversight.

Read more at WIRED (5 mins)

How the Southeast Missourian and Rust Communications are revolutionising journalism with AI

SeMissourian - 

Discover how Cape Girardeau's PubGen.ai, in collaboration with Rust Communications, is revolutionizing local journalism by integrating AI tools like "Eddie" to enhance reporting quality and efficiency, enabling journalists to focus on community-driven stories while preserving the essence of local news. With a significant boost in online traffic and subscriptions, this innovative approach showcases the potential of advanced technology to support and transform small-town media.

Read more at SeMissourian (14 mins)

Artificial intelligence policy for The Nevada Independent

The Nevada Independent - May 19, 2025

The Nevada Independent highlights the essential role of human oversight in journalism while embracing AI to enhance reporting, ensuring all AI-assisted content undergoes thorough review for accuracy and ethics. With a commitment to transparency and continuous training, the outlet prohibits direct AI content production to maintain journalistic integrity.

Read more at The Nevada Independent (4 mins)

Peter Hamby, Host of Snapchat’s ‘Good Luck America,’ discusses journalism and AI

The Stanford Daily - May 22, 2025

In an engaging interview with The Stanford Daily, Peter Hamby, host of Snapchat’s "Good Luck America," shares his insights on the evolving media landscape and the challenges facing journalists today, emphasising the significant impact of social media on news consumption. Conducted by George Porteous, a passionate History and Creative Writing student, the conversation delves into the future of journalism in a rapidly changing environment.

Read more at The Stanford Daily (1 min)

Weekend reads: French agency’s research director sanctioned; AI data woes at MIT; is disruptive science over?

Retraction Watch - May 24, 2025

This week at Retraction Watch, we addressed critical issues in academic publishing, including a journal with a fake editorial board and the retraction of a study by Genentech following our inquiry. We also highlighted the integrity crisis in research, rising concerns about authorship practices, and the impact of AI on academic quality amidst growing scrutiny of the scientific community.

Read more at Retraction Watch (4 mins)

Beyond Open Access: Improving Quality in Research

Psychology Today - May 19, 2025

The academic publishing process faces challenges like gatekeeping and inaccessibility, but Kulldorff (2025) proposes four pillars for reform, including open access and peer review. A fifth pillar is suggested to prioritise clarity over analytical complexity, ensuring research remains transparent and relevant for public understanding.

Read more at Psychology Today (6 mins)

China Dominates Global AI Research in 2024 for Seventh Year Running, Report Says

Yicaiglobal - 

China has solidified its dominance in AI research, publishing 273,900 papers in 2024—29% of the global total—while focusing on "AI for Science" across various fields; however, the US still leads in research impact with a higher citation rate in top journals. This rapid growth, reflected in the doubling of AI paper output since 2015, showcases the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in contemporary science and industry.

Read more at Yicaiglobal (3 mins)

Academy partnership with CSIRO looks to the future of scientific publishing

Science - 

The Australian Academy of Science and CSIRO have renewed their partnership for five more years to support CSIRO’s 15 scientific research journals, which publish over 1,000 high-quality articles annually. This collaboration emphasises the importance of rigorous peer review, international research, and open science in addressing global challenges.

Read more at Science (2 mins)

Why I stopped submitting my work to for-profit publishers

Physics World - May 21, 2025

The academic publishing landscape is facing a crisis as the demand for peer reviewers grows amid an explosion of published articles, leading to concerns about quality and recognition. Many researchers, including those in quantum physics, are advocating for change, and there is a call to reconsider our engagement with for-profit publishers that prioritise profits over scientific advancement.

Read more at Physics World (4 mins)

Enago Launches DocuMark: A Breakthrough Tool that Redefines How Universities Address AI-Assisted Student Work

Fox4kc - 

A new platform empowers students to take responsibility for their AI use in academic work, shifting the focus from monitoring to ethical engagement. By assisting faculty in identifying AI-generated content, it fosters a collaborative learning environment that promotes honesty and accountability.

Read more at Fox4kc (1 min)

High Impact Review Article Writing Workshop Using AI Tools – UTM NewsHub

UTM - May 17, 2025

The Faculty of Artificial Intelligence at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia recently hosted an insightful online session, "FAI Academic Publishing 101: High-Impact Review Paper Using AI Tools," led by Dr. Husna Hafiza R. Azami, aimed at empowering participants with strategies for crafting impactful review articles and navigating the complexities of publishing in high-impact journals. With a focus on AI tools and ethical writing practices, the initiative fosters a culture of academic excellence among UTM staff, students, and researchers.

Read more at UTM (3 mins)