2 verified, source-linked AI implementations documented between 2026–2026.
Deployed without journalist knowledge; union concerns raised
AI-powered tool using Anthropic's Claude to repackage news articles at varying lengths and formats; journalists import URLs and select up to five target audiences; CSA generates: 200–1,500-word summaries optimised for newsletters and social media, video scripts for short-form content, 400–800-word 'Discover explainer' versions optimised for Google Search, and audience- and tone-adjusted variants; developed by Rajiv Pant (ex-CTO The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times); pitched to staff March 17, 2026; deployed across all McClatchy newsrooms including Miami Herald, Sacramento Bee, Kansas City Star, Centre Daily Times, Wichita Eagle and News & Observer; major controversy: AI-generated articles published under journalists' real bylines without their consent; unions at Miami Herald, Sacramento Bee and Kansas City Star filed grievances alleging violations of contract provisions requiring notice of major technological change; Sacramento Bee reporters staged byline revolt May 2026; distinct from McClatchy's earlier AI article condensation deployment (Feb. 2026) — that was on Northwest news sites using different framing; June 2026: the Centre Daily Times (State College, PA) became the FIRST NewsGuild newsroom to unionize specifically in response to AI — all seven eligible editorial staff signed cards and McClatchy voluntarily recognized them as a unit of The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia (TNG-CWA); trigger was bylines on AI content plus factual errors
McClatchy is one of 182 organizations in United States documented in the index, which holds 363 cases from the country. Its work spans 2 function types, including Content Production & Automation, documented across 257 organizations worldwide.