Cleveland Editor Sparks Debate Over AI in Journalism

Plain Dealer's Chris Quinn criticizes journalism schools for instilling fear of AI rather than teaching how to use it effectively.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Chris Quinn, the editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, wrote a column criticizing some journalism schools for instilling in students a fear of artificial intelligence rather than teaching them how to use it effectively. His example was a recent J-school graduate who withdrew from consideration for a reporting role at the Plain Dealer because of how the paper uses AI in its work. The column sparked a debate among journalists on social media about the role of AI in modern journalism.

Why it matters

As AI technology becomes more prevalent in the media industry, there is an ongoing discussion about how journalism schools should prepare students to navigate this new landscape. Quinn's column highlights the tension between embracing AI as a tool and fearing its potential impact on the profession.

The details

In his column, Quinn cited the example of a recent journalism school graduate who withdrew from consideration for a reporting role at the Plain Dealer due to concerns about the paper's use of AI. The editor argued that journalism schools should be teaching students how to effectively utilize AI in their work, rather than instilling a fear of the technology.

  • The column was published on February 18, 2026.

The players

Chris Quinn

The editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This debate highlights the need for journalism schools to strike a balance between teaching students to embrace new technologies like AI, while also addressing the ethical and practical implications of their use in the industry.