Latest news with #Gannett-owned
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gannet Is Using AI to Pump Brainrot Gambling Content Into Newspapers Across the Country
The media giant Gannett, the largest owner of American local newspapers and the publisher of USA Today, is using AI to churn out a nationwide torrent of automated articles about lottery results that often pointedly direct readers toward a gambling site with which Gannett has a financial relationship, giving the company a financial kickback when readers visit it. Gannett appears to have started publishing the automated gambling posts around February of this year, with the articles published en masse by dozens of local newspapers across many US states — an eyebrow-raising editorial move, especially during an explosive rise in gambling addiction that Gannett itself has covered extensively. In many cases, the posts are outfitted with vague bylines, attributed to simply a paper's "Staff" or "Staff reports." Other times, the posts are attributed to a Gannett editor or digital producer, suggesting at first glance that the articles were written by humans. Until you get to the foot of each post, that is. Though the information provided varies slightly from post to post and state to state, the content is extremely formulaic. And at the very bottom of each post, there's a similar disclaimer that each "results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu" — a compiler of lottery data with a website straight out of web 1.0 — and a "template" that was "written and reviewed" by a Gannett journalist in a given market. Take a recent post about Illinois Powerball Pick 3 results, published May 7 in The Peoria Journal Star. The article is bylined by a longtime Gannett employee named Chris Sims, who's listed on LinkedIn as a digital producer for the newspaper giant. At the bottom of the article is the disclaimer fessing up to the use of automation technology to churn out the article, as well as the claim that AI was used in tandem with a template "written and reviewed by an Illinois editor": This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Illinois editor. You can send feedback using this form. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us. That editor would have to be Sims. Right? After all, why else would a journalistic institution slap a journalist's name at the top of an article, if not to insinuate that said journalist was directly involved in its writing or reviewing? But further digging muddies the water. Sims' opening line — emphasis ours — reads as follows: The Illinois Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here's a look at May 7, 2025, results for each game. Simple, but direct — and presumably from a template written by Sims, if the disclaimer is to be believed. But here's the opening line from another, similar post about the May 7 Powerball drawings over in Texas, which was published by the Gannett-owned newspaper The Austin American-Statesman and bylined by a different Gannett journalist named Maria Cortes Gonzalez: The Texas Lottery Gonzalez works for an entirely different market from Sims; actually, she's listed as a reporter for The El Paso Times. And though the opening lines of each article are nearly identical, the disclaimer listed at the bottom of the Gonzalez-bylined article claims that it was "generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Texas editor," and not an editor from Illinois. The pattern continues over in Colorado, where an article published by The Coloradoan about the May 7 Colorado Powerball results features the same lede: The Colorado Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here's a look at May 7, 2025, results for each game. In this instance, the Coloradoan article was simply attributed to "Coloradoan Staff." Its disclaimer, however, names yet another Gannett employee as author of the post's template, declaring that the "results page" was generated using TinBu data and a "template written and reviewed by Fort Collins Coloradoan planner Holly Engelman." The pattern continues at newspapers across the country, from California, to Georgia, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and beyond. (It's also worth pointing out that all winning numbers can be found by googling the name of a state and "lottery numbers," meaning the articles are providing zero original value that can't be found with a simple web search.) Some of the posts go further than simply providing lottery results, and offer extra information on where and how to purchase tickets — and often recommend that readers shop lotto stubs from an online platform called Jackpocket, which struck a deal with Gannett in 2023 and is referred to in many automatically-generated Gannett articles as the "official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network." Jackpocket, which is owned by the digital gambling giant DraftKings, recently came under investigation in Texas after a massive lottery win drew lawmaker scrutiny over the fairness of tickets bought through the third-party lottery platform. To say that mixing automated journalism with SEO-targeted lottery articles that generate revenue when readers become gamblers themselves is pushing the limits of editorial ethics is putting it mildly, especially given the muddiness of the template attributions. When we contacted Gannett for comment, the company confirmed through a spokesperson that it uses a "natural language generation" tool to produce the articles. Regarding the similarities between articles across regions, the spokesperson said that a singular Gannett journalist drafted an original template and distributed it across markets, where market editors edited the draft as they saw fit. The spokesperson also denied that bylining the automated articles with the names of editorial staffers might be misleading to readers, arguing that including the editorial bylines encourages transparency, and stated that all of the automated posts are double-checked by humans before publishing. Gannett also maintained that the articles are editorial — and not advertorial, as the links to Jackpocket might suggest. The spokesperson claimed that the lottery provider wasn't involved in the creation of any of the content we found, and affiliate links were only added in states where Jackpocket, which isn't available in all 50 states, legally operates. In a written statement, the spokesperson doubled down on Gannett's commitment to automation. "By leveraging automation in our newsroom, we are able to expand coverage and enable our journalists to focus on more in-depth reporting," the spokesperson told us in a statement. "With human oversight at every step, this reporting meets our high standards for quality and accuracy to provide our audiences more valuable content which they've always associated with Gannett and the USA TODAY Network." The disclosure that appears on the articles — "Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services" — seems to imply that not all gambling articles earn money when readers start gambling. A spokesperson didn't clarify. This is hardly Gannett's first brush with AI content. Back in June of 2023, the company's chief product officer, Renn Turiano, told Reuters that Gannett planned to experiment with AI, though he swore that it would do so responsibly — and, importantly, would avoid publishing content "automatically, without oversight." But those promises quickly unraveled, and in August, USA Today, The Columbus Dispatch, and other Gannett papers were caught publishing horrendously sloppy AI-generated write-ups about local high school sports scores. It was an embarrassment for the publisher, which was forced to issue mass corrections. Then, in September of 2023, Gannett came under fire once again after journalists at the company's since-shuttered commerce site, Reviewed, publicly accused its owner of publishing AI-generated shopping content bylined by fake writers. At the time, Gannett defended the content; it claimed that it hadn't been created using AI, but had been written by freelancers who worked for a third-party media contractor identified as AdVon Commerce. A months-long Futurism investigation into AdVon later revealed that the company was using a proprietary AI tool to generate content for its many publishing clients, including Gannett, Sports Illustrated, many local newspapers belonging to the McClatchy media network, and more — and bylined its content with fake writers with AI-generated headshots and made-up bios designed to give the bogus content more perceived legitimacy. (AdVon has contested our reporting, but our investigation found many discrepancies in its account.) Gannett also caused controversy amongst staffers last year when it updated contracts to allow for the use of AI to generate "news content," and has since rolled out an AI tool that summarizes articles into bullet points. And now, with its mass-generated lottery content, it seems that the publisher's AI train has continued to chug right along. After Gannett's many AI controversies — and the copious AI journalism scandals we've seen in the publishing industry writ large — automated, SEO-targeted lottery updates feel like the logical next stop. More on Gannett and AI: Gannett Sports Writer on Botched AI-Generated Sports Articles: "Embarrassing"
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The futures of Florida's state parks are now more certain because of you
Those of us of a certain age know now the "Schoolhouse Rock" videos we saw as kids didn't always give us a complete picture of the subjects they covered. In particular, that was true about the "How a Bill Becomes a Law" episode, which didn't adequately explain the role of lobbyists, political horse trading, or many of the other complicated factors in lawmaking. However, on rare occasion, the process does work much like the upbeat cartoon characters described. The parks preservation bill recently approved by the Florida Legislature is one example: People protested over a problem they saw with how their government was run. Legislators listened. They devised a commonsense solution, which was approved without much controversy in one 60-day legislative session. Why, oh why, can't it always be this simple? What a concept: Responding to public outcry The brouhaha began last August, when a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) plan to allow golf courses, pickleball courts and swanky hotels to be built amid the tranquil natural wonders of Anastasia, Topsail Hill Preserve, Jonathan Dickinson and six other prominent state parks was leaked to the public. The groundswell of opposition resonated throughout the state, prompting DEP to withdraw The Great Outdoors Initiative Plan and Gov. Ron DeSantis to first feign ignorance, then pretend the outrage was ginned up as part of a left-wing conspiracy. State Sen. Gayle Harrell and Rep. John Snyder, Stuart Republicans, responded by sponsoring bills intended to prevent future developer land grabs at state legislation inspired the Florida State Parks Preservation Opinion Project, a collaboration by 17 Gannett-owned newspapers in Florida to rally support to preserve and protect our state parks. Opinion: USA Today Network-Florida Opinion campaign to preserve and protect our state parks The campaign included dozens of editorials, opinion columns, photos, videos, letters to the editor and more, published in newspapers and on websites throughout the state. The legislation also was supported by various environmental and advocacy groups, who suggested tightening language Harrell and Snyder proposed. Floridians united for a common cause Gary Wilcox (front), of Miami, participates in a protest at the entrance of Jonathan Dickinson State Park on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Hobe Sound. Rallies, billed as a State Park Lovefest, were planned Saturday at 16 state parks around Florida -- also including Fort Pierce Inlet State Park on the Treasure Coast -- as part of a statewide effort to protect state parks. Jonathan Dickinson is about a 20-minute drive from President Donald Trump's Jupiter golf club. Senate Bill 80, the State Park Preservation Act, filed by state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, would place strict limitations on development in state parks as well as outdoor activities that can be promoted at the parks such as golf, tennis, pickleball and other sports requiring a ball field. Known as the "State Parks Preservation Act," the bill would prohibit most construction in state parks. It also would require public hearings, with ample advance notice, for changes in land management plans and compel the DEP to comply with provisions when granting certain privileges, leases, concessions and permits. The bottom line? The bill is the first line of protection against development proposals done outside of the public's purview that would change the face and spoil the beauty of Florida's state parks. Opinion: These Florida students want to protect our state parks. Their art shows it. There's usually some give and take during the legislative process — which was certainly true in this case. Environmental activists fought for language they thought was necessary to prevent developers from exploiting loopholes in the bill. The bill's prospects of approval, with the more restrictive language, seemed iffy for a while, but during the last week of the session, both houses of the Legislature unanimously approved the more restrictive version. Unanimously. How often, in our state of diverse and sometimes competing interests, does anything win unanimous support from the Legislature — including every committee stop? It's a testament to the high value people place on Florida's wild and unspoiled spaces. Our society may be becoming more urbanized, but there's still a part of us that yearns for places where we can connect with nature. What happened is also a victory for citizen activism. Thousands upon thousands of Floridians mobilized to protest last year after word about the ill-fated park development plans leaked out. Many continued to pepper legislators with input throughout the legislative process, some in texts to their representatives in real time, while the bills were debated in committee. Much credit should also go to Harrell and Snyder for their leadership. Harrell was elected to her final term as a senator last year, part of a lengthy career that also includes 16 years as a state representative. Harrell said during her 2024 campaign this term would be her "last hurrah." This may well be the signature piece of legislation for which the veteran lawmaker is remembered. For Snyder, this was a nice accomplishment for someone viewed as one of the Legislature's rising stars. The bill will be forwarded to DeSantis, who said Wednesday that he will sign it. Good. Because, given the public support behind this legislation, a veto would come at his extreme political peril. And better yet, he should sign it with ceremony, including the legislative sponsors and some of the millions of parks advocates who helped bring awareness to this issue. This editorial was written as part of a campaign by the USA Today Network Florida Opinion Group to support Senate Bill 80 and protect Florida's state parks from development. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: FL state parks protected from development because of you | Editorial
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida Senate poised to pass legislation to protect state parks. Get it done.
Floridians have spoken. They've been vocal about protecting their state parks since news leaked last August of a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) plan to allow golf courses, pickleball courts and swanky hotels to be built amid the tranquil natural wonders of Anastasia, Topsail Hill Preserve and Jonathan Dickinson and six other prominent state parks. The groundswell of opposition resonated throughout the state, prompting the department to withdraw The Great Outdoor Initiative Plan and Gov. Ron DeSantis to first feign ignorance then blow it all off as a left-wing conspiracy. Floridians didn't stop there. They also made their intentions known during the Florida State Parks Preservation Opinion Project, a collaboration by 17 Gannett-owned newspapers in the state of Florida to rally support behind Senate Bill 80, legislation to preserve state parks. From Jupiter to Jacksonville, from Pensacola to Panacea, it was clear that the shared outrage at the idea that their state government would so easily commercialize state parks ran wide and deep. State lawmakers have apparently gotten the memo. Senate Bill 80, along with its House companion, HB 209, have sailed through their respective committee stops, earning bipartisan and unanimous votes along the way. The Florida House took the final step, approving its version of the legislation earlier this month in a 115-0 floor vote. After sailing through the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee on Tuesday, it's time for the full Senate to follow suit with its own timely floor vote that will reconcile its bill with the House companion and move the legislation to the governor's desk to be signed into law. While the Senate bill is a good start, the House version has more unambiguous language that makes it clear that no development that threatens Florida's state parks means just that — no. Florida deserves a strongest bill it can get out of the legislature, and state senators should make sure they get it. Protect Florida state parks: USA Today Network-Florida Opinion campaign to preserve and protect our state parks For a state agency that is supposed to protect Florida's environment, it seems almost unthinkable that DEP would come up with such an antithetical policy as the Great Outdoors Initiative. Initially, the proposal was scheduled to be aired last August in an hour-long simultaneous statewide public hearing. But, the plan was leaked, resulting in a tidal wave of opposition from the public who feared commercial development would destroy the parks' native habitat. One person who responded quickly and perhaps most effectively was state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, who soon after the disclosure of the plan promised to file a bill to prevent such development inside of state parks. SB 80, the State Park Preservation Act, requires public hearings for any land management plan and forces DEP to comply with specified provisions when granting certain privileges, leases, concessions and permits. The bottom line? The bill's the first line of protection against any development proposals done outside of the public's purview that would literally change the face and spoil the beauty of Florida's state parks. Voices of support for state parks: Do you care about protecting Florida's state parks? Here's what you said. | Letters The fact that the bill birthed from public outrage made it through the legislative process so quickly is an accomplishment in itself. The bill's supporters saw potential loopholes for development that slowed its momentum in the Senate, and threatened to derail; it altogether. Kudos to Harrell for not backing down. There may be a need for wiggle room for future niche activities in select state parks, but the legislation headed to the Senate floor all but shuts the door on any major developments. State lawmakers have heard the concerns from millions of their constituents calling for the protection of our beloved state parks, and they've responded, moving a legitimate fix through the what could have been an excruciating process. The priority for the Florida Senate should now be clear. Give their constituents what they want — a strong bill that protects and preserves Florida's state parks. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Floridians love their parks. Legislators got the message. | Editorial
