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MediaMorph Edition 92 - by HANA News
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The written-by-a-human bit
Call me a military geek, but I was reading on the excellent Times (UK) website about an Iranian “kamikaze” Shahed drone hitting the British sovereign base in Akrotiri, Cyprus (where I happened to serve for two years in the ‘90s). My interest was piqued, and I was not convinced that an Iranian drone could make it that far. So I left thetimes.com and went over to Perplexity for a comprehensive brief on ranges and payloads of Shahed drones, and checked to make sure that the UK was out of range.
It still frustrates me that I couldn’t ask The Times (or any other broadsheet website) for this information and stay within their environment. It seems that most editors are not yet ready to hand the reins over to a machine, even though error rates (“hallucinations”) are now vanishingly small. Subscribers should be able to have a “conversation” with every article. In many ways, this is a natural extension of the search bar, which, for most publishers, including The Times, is still so bad that I have to search for Times articles on Google.
Meanwhile, for the serious crisis junky, there is a new open source platform, World Monitor, that uses AI to ingest vast open source intelligence (OSINT) and public datasets like the GDELT project. The result is a phenomenal dashboard that has the “visibility of a CNN war room combined with the analytical depth of the Bloomberg Terminal”. By aggregating everything from real-time news and geopolitical events to prediction markets and crypto markets, the free app ensures you no longer have to flip between multiple news apps, Twitter threads, or TV debates to understand global shifts.
Normies like me now have access to a tool that was previously only available to paying professional researchers, crisis managers, cybersecurity professionals and financial analysts.
With caveats: it is only as good as the quality of its data sources and the AI models' underlying assumptions. It may just be a fancy visualisation tool for the crisis-porn market.
But the founder, Elie Habib, creator of the music streaming platform Anghami, has shown how to leverage technology to democratise access to real-time global insights and signals.
It won’t replace the newspaper anytime soon, but it’s good to know we are still at DEFCON 5.
Good to see a plucky initiative by five leading British publishers to launch the Standards for Publisher Usage Rights coalition. The aim is to start a global industry licensing standard for AI training rights. Signatories include the BBC director-general Tim Davie, Sky News executive chairman David Rhodes, Guardian CEO Anna Bateson, Telegraph CEO Anna Jones, and Financial Times CEO Jon Slade.
The ambition is to “establish shared technical standards and responsible licensing frameworks that ensure AI developers can access high quality, reliable journalism in legitimate, responsible and convenient ways, while guaranteeing that publishers retain practical control of their content and receive fair value when it is used.”
It’s a noble cause and one that could pave the way out of the current sign-or-sue dichotomy. In theory, publishers will be fairly compensated whenever their content is ingested and surfaced by AI systems.
It’s a worthy goal, but begs the question – how? Standards and frameworks without legislation will be the equivalent of asking nicely. Moreover, the question still remains – how to unscramble a scrambled egg? Part of the answer will be by redefining the citation as a credible blue link; another may be embedding answer engines in the publishers’ own ecosystem (see above).
Tool of the week: Perplexity Computer - https://www.perplexity.ai/computer - (available for only Max Plan users for now). Perplexity has been “Openclawed” and can now run errands in the background. I will see if it can build me a World Monitor.
Mark Riley, CEO Mathison AI
AI and Journalism
This week’s best articles, as chosen by our editors
Guardian joins media coalition to protect original journalism from unpaid use by AI The Guardian - February 26, 2026 A coalition of major UK media companies, including the Guardian and BBC, has launched the Standards for Publisher Usage Rights (Spur) to advocate for fair compensation from AI firms for using their journalism. They aim to protect original reporting and establish common standards that benefit both journalism and AI, while pushing for licensing regimes and technical tools to safeguard intellectual property. |
UK media groups unite to tackle AI ‘scraping’ of journalism FT - February 26, 2026 Enjoy unlimited access to top-notch Financial Times journalism for just £1 in the first four weeks, with flexible subscription options available afterward. Check for potential free access through your university or organization, and explore plans tailored for individuals and groups! |
Compass Vermont Raises Questions About AI and the News Seven Days - February 25, 2026 Compass Vermont, an online news outlet gaining traction for its unique local stories, faces scrutiny over its undisclosed use of AI in content creation, raising concerns about transparency and journalistic integrity. As the media landscape increasingly integrates AI tools, the debate continues on maintaining accuracy and authenticity in reporting while leveraging technological advancements. |
Growing more complex by the day: How should journalists govern use of AI in their products? Phys - The news industry is evolving with the integration of AI, enhancing efficiency in content creation and personalized delivery while raising concerns about job displacement and misinformation. The future will likely see a collaboration between human journalists and AI, striving to improve storytelling and uphold journalistic integrity. |
In This Cleveland Newsroom, AI Is Writing (But Not Reporting) the News Cjr - In October 2022, Chris Quinn of Cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer announced a new job opening aimed at enhancing local journalism by fostering innovation and community engagement. This initiative reflects a broader industry trend towards strengthening digital presence and connecting with diverse audiences. |
How generative AI is reshaping journalism and higher education at Mizzou As journalism organizations embrace AI to enhance reporting and streamline workflows, they face critical ethical concerns about accuracy, bias, and job displacement. The ongoing debate highlights the need for responsible integration of AI that upholds journalistic integrity while improving efficiency and audience engagement. |
News Industry Faces Strike Over AI Use as Technology Reshapes Journalism ProPublica journalists are contemplating a strike over the organization's artificial intelligence policies, highlighting concerns about job security and ethical implications in journalism. This pivotal moment could influence labor relations across the media industry as organizations navigate the integration of AI technologies. |
An Ohio newspaper has a new star writer. It isn’t human. Washington Post - The Cleveland Plain Dealer is seeing a boost in readership thanks to a new initiative that leverages AI for news article drafting, but this technological shift is sparking concerns among staff about job security and the potential impact on journalistic quality. As media outlets increasingly turn to innovative solutions to meet evolving consumer demands, the integration of AI in newsrooms raises important questions about the future of journalism. |
FAIR news act prevents journalism’s reliance on AI through transparency The Ticker - The student news site of Baruch - February 23, 2026 The NY FAIR News Act aims to enhance transparency in journalism by requiring disclosure of AI involvement in news content creation and ensuring job protection for employees as media organizations navigate the opportunities and risks posed by AI technologies. This legislation emphasizes the importance of human oversight in storytelling to combat misinformation and maintain journalistic integrity. |
Staff journalists sacked and misleadingly replaced with AI writers Press Gazette - February 27, 2026 Several gaming sites, including The Escapist and Videogamer, have replaced human writers with AI-generated content following their acquisition by Clickout Media, leading to staff layoffs and concerns over authenticity and misinformation. This shift has sparked backlash from former employees and raised alarms about the implications of AI in journalism amidst ongoing investigations into fake news generated by artificial intelligence. |
She’s building an AI that replaces your news feed, your analyst, and maybe your morning routine The Media Copilot - February 26, 2026 In this episode of The Media Copilot, host Pete Pachal interviews Gnomi's CEO Eva Cicinyte, who discusses her AI-driven platform designed to offer personalized, real-time news insights that prioritize understanding over engagement, aiming to combat misinformation and echo chambers in journalism. The conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI in media, emphasizing the importance of context creation and overcoming cultural barriers for a more informed society. |
The Best AI Transcription Tools for Journalists: Hands-On Review The Media Copilot - March 2, 2026 Explore our comprehensive review of five top AI speech-to-text services—Google Pinpoint, Good Tape, Sonix, Otter.ai, and Descript—to find the perfect transcription tool for your journalistic needs, from budget-friendly options to high-accuracy solutions tailored for investigative reporting and multimedia production. Whether you prioritize cost, accuracy, or advanced features, we've got the insights to help streamline your workflow! |
AI jobs of the future change roles in journalism KGUN 9 Tucson News - March 2, 2026 The rise of AI in the television news industry is enhancing efficiency while emphasizing the need for human oversight, as highlighted by KGUN9's use of tools like Scripps' Engine Room. Journalists are leveraging AI to streamline tasks and generate content ideas, all while maintaining ethical standards and authenticity in reporting. |
Growing more complex by the day: How should journalists govern use of AI in their products? Phys - The integration of artificial intelligence in the news industry is transforming content creation, distribution, and audience engagement, enhancing efficiency but also raising concerns about journalism quality and misinformation. As media organizations adapt, the future will likely see a collaboration between human journalists and AI to ensure accurate and timely reporting. |
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AI and Academic Publishing
This week’s best articles, as chosen by our editors
AI and editorial workflows: Lessons from 2025 The Sunday Guardian - February 28, 2026 In 2025, AI has revolutionized scholarly publishing by streamlining editorial workflows and enhancing manuscript quality, yet it underscores the need for human oversight to maintain depth and integrity in research. As the academic community navigates the benefits and challenges of AI, a balance between technological efficiency and human judgment remains essential for equitable and responsible publishing practices. |
AI is turning research into a scientific monoculture Nature - February 23, 2026 The text explores the self-reinforcing cycle of convergence in AI research, highlighting how techno-cultural factors and institutional incentives lead to reduced diversity in inquiry and a homogenization of discourse. It calls for a shift towards funding diversification and methodological rotation to preserve diverse research approaches and mitigate the risks of epistemic monocropping in the scientific community. |
Q&A: Researchers discuss potential solutions for the feedback loop affecting scientific publishing The peer review system in scientific publishing is facing a crisis, driven by an overwhelming number of submissions and a shortage of willing reviewers, as highlighted by Carl Bergstrom and Kevin Gross. Their research suggests that incentivizing reviewers and shifting academic evaluation criteria could alleviate the strain and preserve the integrity of scientific literature. |
Opportunities & Threats: Academic Media InPublishing - March 1, 2026 The scholarly publishing industry is at a crossroads, facing challenges from rising costs and the need for open access solutions like Diamond OA while adapting to the evolving landscape of AI. By embracing innovative AI-driven workflows, the sector can transform disruption into renewal, ensuring that research remains credible, accessible, and impactful in addressing global issues. |
‘Your bot of choice is not a filing cabinet’ THE Campus Learn, Share, Connect - February 26, 2026 A professor's loss of two years' worth of academic work due to a privacy switch in ChatGPT highlights the risks of over-reliance on AI tools for data management, emphasizing the need for robust data governance and local backups. This incident serves as a reminder that while AI can enhance workflows, it must be used wisely and responsibly to protect research integrity. |
WTF is pay per ‘demonstrated’ value in AI content licensing? Digiday - March 2, 2026 The emerging "pay-per-value" model in content licensing for large language models (LLMs) aims to fairly compensate publishers based on the value their content brings to AI queries, addressing revenue losses from diminished search traffic. With complexities in pricing influenced by factors like content relevance and timeliness, this approach seeks a collaborative solution between publishers and AI companies to ensure equitable compensation. |
Research Solutions Launches Scite MCP, Connecting ChatGPT, Claude, & Other AI Tools To Scientific Literature Prnewswire - February 26, 2026 Research Solutions has launched Scite MCP, a groundbreaking integration that connects AI tools to a vast database of over 250 million scientific articles, allowing researchers to receive evidence-backed answers directly within platforms like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. By utilizing Scite's proprietary Smart Citations, the integration enhances the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated responses, transforming how researchers evaluate scientific literature. |
AI boosts scientific productivity but may threaten research diversity Dongascience - February 28, 2026 The rise of generative AI in scientific research is revolutionizing the publication process, enabling researchers to produce and cite papers at unprecedented rates, but it also raises concerns about diminished diversity and innovation in inquiry. As debates intensify around AI's role—from enhancing accessibility for non-native English speakers to potential erosion of trust in published results—experts advocate for a balanced approach that values quality over quantity in academic contributions. |
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