Detecting AI-Generated News: A Hybrid Classifier to Distinguish Real vs. LLM-Based Fabrication

Purpose: The widespread adoption of large language models (LLMs) has made it possible to generate convincing news articles at scale, posing significant risks to information credibility and audience trust. Beyond text, these AI-generated narratives are increasingly repurposed into short-form videos on platforms such as YouTube Reels, Instagram Stories, and Snapchat. This study seeks to develop a reliable detection framework capable of identifying such fabricated content in both textual and video-transcribed forms. Methodology: A hybrid classification approach was designed, combining three complementary strategies: (i) watermark signal detection to trace hidden statistical markers, (ii) token-level probability profiling to capture generation patterns, and (iii) entropy-based analysis to measure text variability. The evaluation was carried out on a purpose-built dataset consisting of authentic articles from established news outlets, synthetic outputs from models such as GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and Claude, and manually collected transcripts from video news segments. Findings: The hybrid model attained an overall accuracy of 89.3%, with precision, recall, and F1-scores consistently above 87%. Compared to baseline models using perplexity or probability alone, the proposed method demonstrated superior robustness. Moreover, the system correctly flagged 62% of synthetic video transcripts, showing its potential for multimodal applications. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy, and Practice: This work introduces a novel methodological integration that advances theoretical research in AI-content verification. It further informs emerging policy discussions, including compliance with the EU AI Act and platform-level content authenticity standards. From a practical perspective, the framework offers media companies and social platforms an operational tool for moderating AI-generated misinformation before it gains viral momentum.