82% of Journalists Are Now Using AI to Write the News You Read Every Day

Here's a number that might change how you think about the news: 82% of journalists are now using AI tools in their work.

That's according to Muck Rack's brand new State of Journalism 2026 report, released today, which surveyed nearly 900 journalists about how they do their jobs. The findings paint a picture of a profession that's rapidly embracing AI while simultaneously being terrified of what it means.

The breakdown is fascinating. Nearly half of all journalists (47%) are using ChatGPT. Google's Gemini jumped from 13% to 22% in just one year. And Claude (made by Anthropic) doubled its usage from 6% to 12%. Transcription tools are used by 40% of reporters.

But here's the twist: even as journalists use AI more, they're increasingly worried about it. 26% now cite "unchecked AI" as a top threat to their industry, up from 18% last year. The biggest concerns overall? Disinformation and lack of funding, both tied at 32%.

There's also a major shift happening in how journalists find stories. Social media use for reporting dropped to just 21%, down 12 points since 2024. LinkedIn is now the most trusted platform among journalists at 58%, while distrust of TikTok climbed to 61%.

So the people writing your news are using AI to help them do it, but they're also worried AI might eventually replace them entirely. If that's not the most 2026 thing you've heard today, I don't know what is.

As reported by Muck Rack via GlobeNewsWire.

Source: GlobeNewsWire