Trusting News

The LA Times recently disclosed a new AI-driven approach to generating counterpoints in opinion pieces. Their transparency is commendable, but it also reveals what happens when human involvement is absent. We know from our research that 94% of the public *does* want journalists to disclose their use of AI. But we also know people feel more comfortable with journalists using AI when journalists ARE a part of the process — when there is human review. That's why we recommend that journalists get clear about: ✅ Whether there's human involvement or not ✅ The specifics: How was AI actually used to produce the content ✅ How the use of AI improves the user’s experience You can find more help on how to write these disclosures in this week's Trust Tips newsletter. https://lnkd.in/g9zT83tG

ABC10 has collaborated with Trusting News for years, relying on their support as we've intentionally built trust with diverse communities in our coverage area. I'm excited to now be part of Trusting News' inaugural advisory committee, amongst such talented journalists, and play a small part in helping strengthen resources for other newsrooms engaged in important work around trust and credibility!

Just like we advise newsrooms to do, we are investing in keeping in touch with the people we aim to serve. We're lucky to have these journalists on our inaugural newsroom advisory committee. 🎉 We're so grateful for their time and commitment. Dana Amihere Dylan Goforth Nicole Ki Danny McArthur Becky Pallack Jacqué Palmer Sabrina T. Sanchez Allison Shirk Elizabeth Smith Erica Smith Carlos Virgen

If you're in North Carolina, join Joy Mayer on March 12 at the NC Local workshop. She's leading a session on what trust looks like in an era of news avoidance, and the program is packed with important conversations. https://lnkd.in/eaWRucM6

Misassumptions about how news is funded can be a key driver of mistrust. Don't let that be the case for you! Instead, combat accusations and build trust by getting on the record about where you get your money, how it influences your coverage and why you rely on community support. We'll walk you through how in this upcoming training. https://lnkd.in/gTTCkxEb

Do people in your newsroom feel comfortable speaking up, sharing their opinion, and even disagreeing with coverage? The concept might make you uncomfortable -- don't we want to agree? Don't we want to minimize potential conflict? Here's the thing: If you want your news coverage to feel relevant and reflective of your community, it's important to have people in your newsroom who both reflect the makeup of your community AND feel safe speaking up about their experience. Fostering a newsroom culture like this can be challenging. Which is why we're sharing a simple way to start: By asking some extra questions during your news meetings. Interrupt your story pitch routines by inviting your colleagues to answer one of the four questions below. ⬇️ We have more guidance here. https://lnkd.in/gWBiw2rj

If your newsroom isn't using AI, you might think you're exempt from needing to talk about it with your audience. But as Lynn Walsh shares below, most people assume journalists are already using AI to report and create content. That's why it's important journalists get on the record about how they are — or aren't! — using AI. We have Mad Libs-style disclosures you can copy and adjust here to help you get on the record about it with your audience: trustingnews.org/AI Note: These video captions were created using AI, but were reviewed by a member of our team. You can see our entire AI policy here: https://lnkd.in/gZ6GchaR

We love to see journalists prominently own up to their mistakes. 👏 As journalists, we never want to make mistakes. But of course, we’re human and we mess up. While mistakes may make you cringe (or want to hide in a deep, dark hole) when we downplay our corrections, it confirms people's beliefs that journalists don't really care about getting it right. Pew research shows *fewer than half of U.S. adults* think journalists admit and take responsibility for their mistakes. And people with low trust in the news cite a lack of faith in news outlets’ accuracy and the perception that journalists don’t own up to their errors as part of the problem. ❌ If mistakes and corrections aren't handled transparently and honestly, we can perpetuate feelings of distrust and skepticism over journalists' motives and integrity. ✅ But when handled with humility and accountability, mistakes and corrections could actually build empathy, trust and rapport with your audience. Simple ways this can look like: Recently, both NPR and The Washington Post made their corrections clear by re-sending breaking news alerts with the correction prominently in the headline. While every correction is different, we encourage you to see mistakes as an opportunity to build, not lose, trust.  For more help and guidance (plus more newsroom examples!) check out our step-by-step Corrections Trust Kit. https://lnkd.in/gWx4E2TK

📣 We’re looking for eight journalists eager to participate in a research study examining how LGBTQ+ topics influence disengagement from traditional media. This study, led by one of Trusting News' research partners Patrick R. Johnson, aims to interrogate: 1. Why LGBTQ+ content sparks avoidance 2. How journalists can navigate these challenges 3. Strategies newsrooms can implement to better engage diverse audiences without compromising ethical, accurate, and inclusive reporting. Participating journalists will receive $500 for their help. 📅 Apply by March 7!

As more people turn to creators and influencers for information, there’s a lot newsrooms can learn. That’s why at Trusting News, we've been talking about how journalism can adapt -- by learning from influencers' success and collaborating with them. The American Press Institute has been digging into what these collaborations can look like, and their team just wrapped up a pilot program leading newsrooms through these types of partnerships. Their learnings, along with ethical guidelines from our team, offer insight for newsrooms looking to navigate this space. 📌 Find trusted messengers in your community. Influencers aren’t just those with large social followings -- sometimes they're community leaders with a prominent voice. 📌 Envision different ways to collaborate. These collaborations can look many different ways, including paying an influencer to help distribute your newsroom content or actually collaborating on creating content together. This content might (and maybe should!) look different from the content your newsroom typically produces. 📌 Be transparent. Clearly communicate the ethics behind these collaborations. Our guide (linked below) can help you anticipate and prepare for any potentially sticky ethical situations that may arise. https://lnkd.in/g-NcTRDH