The Role of Generative AI in Shaping Media Narratives

Generative AI is becoming more and more involved in newsrooms, and the implications of it on framing, sourcing, and trust are under-researched. The paper is a combination of content analysis (politics, health, technology), randomized experiment (n=800), and semi-structured interviews with reporters. The findings indicated that AI-mediated articles were more understandable and coherent but lacked diversity in the sources and were more based on official voices. AI-only stories were otherwise penalized in terms of trust, and AI+editor stories minimized this difference. Interviews highlighted the positive aspects of AI as a speedy and innovative tool, but also mentioned prejudice, illusions, and disclosure expenses. The paper recommends the use of AI alongside editorial values, disclosure, and source variability as a way of ensuring trust. The policy suggestions are to enhance the quality of provenance and to promote diversity of documented sources in AI-assisted journalism.