Update: NYT just sent a memo to all freelancers on use of A.I.
Just for transparency, all freelancers in the New York Times database got this memo.
This is a follow to this story.
All freelancers in the NYT received the following email and link this morning. The NYT appears to be trying to ensure no further use of AI in writing, as per its policy. There has been no public update on the previous incident where an AI-generated hallucination was attributed to Pierre Poilievre.
TO: ALL TIMES FREELANCERS
Hello,
This is a periodic reminder about The Times's newsroom ethics policies, including our policy on freelancers’ use of generative A.I. tools. We want to ensure you’re aware of the formalized Newsroom and Opinion Policy on Freelancers’ Use of Generative A.I. Tools.
To be clear on A.I.: All writing and visuals that freelancers submit to The Times must be the product of human creativity and craft, and all submissions must consist solely of their original reporting, writing and other work. Freelance contributors must not submit any material for publication that contains content generated, modified or enhanced by gen-A.I. tools, or that has been input into these tools.
Freelancers also should not enter any materials intended for use in connection with their work for The Times, or any other copyright-protected material, whether in draft or published form, into gen-A.I. tools. Freelancers may use gen-A.I. tools in limited ways, including for high-level brainstorming without inputting such materials, and, with prior written approval from The Times, when reporting on the tools themselves.
This description does not cover all the elements of the Newsroom and Opinion Policy on Freelancers’ Use of Generative A.I. Tools; we expect freelancers to read it in its entirety and to adhere to all of its provisions.
As always, we expect all our journalists — staff members and outside contributors — to protect the integrity and credibility of Times journalism. That means avoiding conflicts of interest, maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality, and safeguarding The Times’s reputation for independence.
Your freelance contract requires you to comply with the provisions of The Times’s policy on Ethical Journalism and to take care to avoid conflicts or the appearance of a conflict. The provisions pertaining specifically to outside contributors are in Chapter 7 of the guidelines, but you should review the entire document. Readers do not distinguish between freelancers and staff journalists at The Times, so as far as possible we expect outside contributors to adhere to the same standards as Times staff members.
The ethics rules outline specific requirements while you are on assignment for The Times. But because of The Times’s high profile, our freelance contributors are often viewed as “Times journalists” even when they are not specifically working for us. That is especially true when a freelancer’s social-media bio mentions a Times affiliation.
Freelancers — reporters, photographers, audio and video journalists, and other outside contributors — should take care to avoid activities on social media that would damage the credibility of the journalism they do for The Times. Strident partisan advocacy or offensive personal attacks risk undercutting a journalist’s credibility. Times editors may decide not to offer future assignments if they believe a journalist’s online presence shows poor judgment or could undermine The Times’s reputation. (For your information, The Times’s social-media guidance for newsroom staff members is here.)
Regarding conflicts of interest, please note that our rules on free travel and other free or discounted products and services are stricter than those of many publications. Even if such a benefit is not directly connected to a Times assignment, it can create an appearance that undermines the credibility of The Times or its contributors. Any questions involving such benefits should be discussed with the Times editor you are working with.
Other potential ethical concerns include these:
— Work for companies or organizations that The Times may cover.
— Undisclosed ties between the journalist and people or institutions mentioned in an article.
— Lobbying, advocacy or political activities or contributions related to the area of coverage.
Our written guidelines are detailed, but they cannot anticipate every situation. The best rule of thumb is the simplest: If you have any questions or doubts about our policies, ask the Times editor, art director or producer you are working with before proceeding.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Susan Wessling
Standards Editor
The New York Times
When they sent the memo they included a link to their google drive document on Newsroom policy for generative AI for freelances. The document is converted it into a non-selectable format, so I can’t copy and paste the text. But I can screenshot it.
Just freelancers?
In short, the NYT insists that freelancers observe the same restrictions and rules as staffers—but still pays them pocket lint.