A recent report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism addresses the rapid transformations brought about by generative artificial intelligence in the press landscape worldwide. It spotlights a disturbing trend observed by newsrooms, which is the acceleration of output marred by deceptive practices that undermine trust between editors and writers. The findings show that by 2025, instances of fake journalists had emerged, with articles attributed to these fictitious names appearing in prominent media outlets, only to be revealed later that the content was generated using AI tools and did not belong to real individuals.

Despite these incidents being limited, they expose the fragility within the freelance journalism ecosystem that hinges on mutual trust between the journalist and the editor. As the report reveals, increasing concerns are being raised within newsrooms about editors' ability to distinguish between genuine journalists and fabricated identities, especially in the context of easily generated texts and images. This raises questions about the future of freelance journalism as the industry grapples with these ethical and operational challenges.

Further, the report included an open survey of 45 independent journalists and editors from various countries, shedding light on their experiences and perceptions regarding the implications of AI in reporting. The results illustrate a growing unease about the role of AI in creating credible journalism and the potential risks it poses concerning misinformation and the integrity of the news media.