At 14 East, we have a zero-tolerance policy for publishing works that use generative AI. Generative AI is an artificial intelligence software that can “create” original content like text, images, videos, photos, mimic people’s likeness, etc. Examples of these software programs include Gemini, ChatGPT, Grok and Claude.
AI for transcribing interviews (like Otter) is permitted but must still be verified by a human staff member during factchecking.
Usage of generative AI is prohibited in all these contexts including, but not limited to:
- Brainstorming and crafting outlines
- Drafting sentences, paragraphs or full articles that try to imitate your writing style
- Illustrations
- Animations
- Videos
- Photography
- Creation of people that do not exist with fake voices
Any usage of generative AI will result in disqualifying an article from publication and a meeting with the Editor-in-Chief and advisor. Repeated offenses will result in a two-week suspension from writing and an increase in getting assigned factchecking and editing responsibilities.
Why do we have this policy?
At 14 East, we want you to be effectively equipped with the tools needed to be a good journalist and writer, especially with how competitive the industry is. Learning how to come up with timely topics to write about, developing your own writing style and figuring out how to add real people’s perspectives within an article without generative AI are all skills that are vital in making a good journalist.
Generative AI has contributed a lot to spreading misinformation with portraying videos, images and conversations of things that did not happen. It has even been inaccurate in its “factual” writeups. AI cannot go out and physically talk to sources either. To misrepresent communities and blatantly lie to our reader base is not in line with credible publications and is a complete detriment to journalistic integrity.
We are training a group of people who value the art of human expression through the written word or through visual mediums, who engage with books and read the news almost every day. In order to write the news, you must read the news. Generative AI stunts creative growth and doesn’t allow for original voices to shine through. It’s literally trained to regurgitate and spoon feed information to people based on human biases like race, gender and age. A 2024 UNESCO study on generative AI shows that there is a strong bias against women and girls, Black people and LGBTQ+ people. Open-source Learning Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT tended to assign higher profile careers to men and assigned careers like sex work and domestic labor to women. Even the stories they produced were riddled in gender bias, giving male characters adventure stories and female characters love stories. This study also showed that when typed “a gay person is…” in generative AI, 70% of the responses had negative connotations. British men were assigned doctor, clerk and driver while Zulu men were assigned gardener and security guard. This means AI is riddled in mainstream viewpoints (mostly white and male) and casts other communities aside, which is not in line with what our mission and goals are at 14 East. We need to serve all communities in Chicago, not ones that AI tells us to.
Remember, AI copies humans, not the other way around. We are here to help you and it’s okay to not have a solution for everything, but it is not okay to turn to AI to create one. You were hired because you are creative!
What are some alternatives to using generative AI?
Our management team is here to help you if you are struggling with coming up with article ideas, sources and even how to structure/effectively write your piece. Please come to us if you need help in any way instead of consulting AI.
Resources for finding experts and news articles to generate ideas:
News publications: Block Club Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times, The TRiiBE, Chicago Defender, Axios Chicago, WBEZ, ABC7 Chicago, NBC5, City Bureau, The 19th, NBC, ABC, CBS, NPR, CNN, The New York Times, the AP, PBS, The Guardian, POLITICO, The Hill, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, TIME, The Washington Post, USA Today, ProPublica, U.S. News & World Report, NewsNation, Democracy Now!, the BBC, Reuters, Al Jazeera
Other approved metro/regional publications: Los Angeles Times, Oregonian, Minnesota Star Tribune, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Indianapolis Star, Miami Herald, Dallas Morning News, Texas Tribune, The Louisville Courier Journal, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch, Des Moines Register, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Campus news: Campus Events, Blue Demon Sports Schedules, University News, DeHUB
Reviews: Upcoming album releases, Upcoming films, Goodreads
Pueblo: Latino News Network, NBC Telemundo
DePaul Media Relations (for DePaul’s official statements): Media Relations | DePaul University – Chicago, IL
DePaul Expert Guide (for expert sources on topics): Expert Guide | DePaul University – Chicago, IL
How can you tell if a source/website is AI or written by AI?
- Are authors listed? If so, can you find any more information about them as people? Not just a list of other articles they may have written, but their real-world experience and expertise/interests in the journalism field?
- Repetitive sentence structure, lists, excessive em-dashes
- Vague generalities and few examples/personal experience
- Lack of citations
- Buzzwords
- Agreeable with what you’re saying
Example of AI-generated source: Resident Evil Requiem Review: Capcom’s Gore-Soaked Finale
If there are any questions to this policy, please direct them to the Editor-in-Chief or Faculty Advisor Amy Merrick.