Final exam: AI for journalists

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1. A reporter uploads a leaked internal memo to a public chatbot to summarize it. What is the main problem?
The memo is probably fake, so the chatbot will repeat false claimsThe summary may run too long to be useful in a short news briefChatbots cannot summarize leaked documents accurately without losing the key meaningA sensitive document and possibly a source were exposed to an unapproved tool
2. An AI draft contains a quote from a named professor that you cannot find anywhere. What should you do?
Paraphrase it so it no longer reads as a word-for-word quotationKeep it, since it fits the story and the professor is a real personAttribute it to a source familiar with the matter insteadRemove it unless you can confirm the professor said it
3. A tipster sends a striking video of an event. What is the best first move?
Ask the AI tool whether the video looks real and publish if it says yesPublish it with a warning that the footage is unverified and may be changedRun it through a single AI detector and rely on the authenticity score it givesVerify its origin, date and location through multiple methods and contact the source
4. When simplifying a technical paragraph with AI, what is a key check?
That hedges like 'alleged' and 'estimated' and all facts survivedThat the paragraph is shorter than the version you started with, by a clear marginThat it contains more vivid adjectives to hold a general readerThat it is broken into bullet points so readers can skim it
5. Your editor has no AI policy. What is a sensible step?
Use AI only for confidential material because it never leaves the newsroomAsk for guidance, use only public low-risk material meanwhile, and suggest a written policyUse whatever tools you like, since no rule says you cannot, and tell nobodyStop using AI for research altogether and avoid mentioning it to colleagues
6. Which task most clearly requires a human reporter?
Transcribing a recording roughly to find the key passagesGaining a witness's trust to tell a sensitive storyGenerating alternative headlines for a finished storyDrafting a glossary of terms for a technical subject
7. An AI summary of a court case says the defendant 'was convicted'. The record shows charges were dropped. What does this show?
The tool is reliable on law, so the dropped charges are an exceptionAI can state errors fluently, so primary records must be checkedThe court record is wrong and should be corrected by the clerkCourt records are optional when an AI summary is available
8. Which statement about audience disclosure is best?
Hide AI use whenever possible to avoid criticism from the audienceNever mention the tools you use, since readers care about the result onlyFollow your outlet's policy and be open when AI use matters to readersDisclose only if a government regulator or a court asks you to

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