The first signs of something amiss in Powell Tribune reporter CJ Baker’s investigation were unusual quotes from Wyoming’s governor and a local prosecutor. Subtle, almost robotic phrases in the articles caught his attention next. However, the unmistakable clue that his competitor’s reporter was using generative artificial intelligence to draft stories appeared in a June 26 article about comedian Larry the Cable Guy being named grand marshal of a local parade. The article ended with an explanation of the inverted pyramid, a basic journalism technique.
“The 2024 Cody Stampede Parade promises to be an unforgettable celebration of American independence, led by one of comedy’s most beloved figures,” the Cody Enterprise reported. “This structure ensures that the most critical information is presented first, making it easier for readers to grasp the main points quickly.”
After investigating, Baker, with over 15 years of experience in journalism, confronted 40-year-old rookie reporter Aaron Pelczar, who admitted to using AI for his articles before resigning from the Enterprise. The Enterprise’s publisher and editor, established in 1899 by Buffalo Bill Cody, have since issued apologies and promised measures to prevent future occurrences. In an editorial, Enterprise Editor Chris Bacon acknowledged he “failed to catch” the AI-generated content and false quotes, expressing regret that “AI was allowed to put words that were never spoken into stories.”
Artificial intelligence is not new to journalism, having been used to automate tasks and allow reporters to focus on more impactful work. For instance, The Associated Press has used AI since 2014 for financial earnings reports and more recently for sports stories. The AP also experiments with an AI tool to translate stories into Spanish, always noting the technology’s role in its production. Being transparent about how AI is used is crucial, as exemplified by a scandal last year where Sports Illustrated published AI-generated product reviews under nonexistent reporter names, damaging its reputation.
In his Powell Tribune article, Baker described an awkward but polite meeting with Pelczar and Bacon, during which Pelczar insisted that he never intended to misquote anyone and promised to correct and apologize for any mistakes. Despite this, Pelczar’s actions shouldn’t reflect on Cody Enterprise editors, he asserted. Following the meeting, Bacon discovered seven stories containing AI-generated quotes from six individuals. He is currently reviewing additional articles.
“They’re very believable quotes,” Bacon noted, adding that those quoted in Pelczar’s articles admitted the quotes sounded like something they might say, even though they hadn’t spoken to him.
Baker reported that seven people had informed him they were quoted in Pelczar stories but never spoke to him. Attempts to reach Pelczar for comment have been unsuccessful, as he declined to discuss the issue with another Wyoming newspaper, and did not return an AP phone message.
Baker’s suspicions were initially aroused by a combination of phrases and quotes in Pelczar’s stories. One story on a Yellowstone National Park shooting included a sentence reminiscent of chatbot summaries that often conclude with a “life lesson”: “This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of human behavior, even in the most serene settings.”
Another story about a poaching sentencing contained quotes from a wildlife official and a prosecutor that seemed to originate from a press release, which did not exist, and the involved agencies couldn’t identify the source of the quotes.
Two disputed stories included fabricated quotes from Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, his spokesperson Michael Pearlman confirmed, saying the quotes in question prompted confusion when Baker contacted them.
Creating AI-generated stories isn’t difficult, explained Alex Mahadevan of the Poynter Institute, a key journalism think tank: “These generative AI chatbots are programmed to give you an answer, no matter whether that answer is complete garbage or not.”
Megan Barton, publisher of the Cody Enterprise, condemned AI as “the new, advanced form of plagiarism” in an editorial, insisting the newspaper now has a system to detect AI-generated stories and will engage in “longer conversations about how AI-generated stories are not acceptable.”
In his editorial, Bacon evoked the legacy of former professional baseball player Robin Ventura, comparing his own shame to Ventura’s widely-publicized defeat in a 1993 scuffle with Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. Bacon reminded readers that the Enterprise lacked an AI policy because it seemed self-evident to refrain from using it for writing.
Bacon, appointed editor in May following his tenure as a reporter, aims to implement an AI policy by week’s end. “This will be a pre-employment topic of discussion,” he stated.
