Reporters at McClatchy newspapers, including The Miami Herald and The Sacramento Bee, refuse to credit AI‑generated summaries with their names. The chain’s internally built "Content Scaling Agent" produces alternate versions of stories, but journalists claim the practice misrepresents their authorship and erodes trust.

The dispute stems from McClatchy’s push to publish more content without hiring extra editors. Vice president Eric Nelson touted the tool as a way to boost inventory and improve Google rankings, citing the potential to reach new audiences.

Union letters from over 65 newsroom staff argue that the tool violates contracts that require notice before major tech changes. They warn that AI‑filled pages could dilute the relationship between reporters and their communities, undermining the paper’s credibility.

Ultimately, the conflict highlights a broader industry struggle: balancing automation’s efficiency gains against the integrity of journalistic credit and the labor agreements that protect reporters’ work.