Ohio Newspaper Outsources Article Drafting to AI Rewrite Specialist

Cleveland.com reporters now focus solely on reporting, with AI generating initial article drafts

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Cleveland.com, the digital arm of Ohio's Plain Dealer newspaper, has removed the writing component from certain reporters' workloads and handed that task to an "AI rewrite specialist" who generates article drafts based on the reporters' gathered material. Editors review the AI-produced drafts, and reporters have the final say before publication. The newsroom adopted this model to expand local coverage into counties it could no longer staff with full teams, effectively freeing up an extra workday per week for each reporter.

Why it matters

This move by Cleveland.com highlights the growing role of AI in the journalism industry, as newsrooms seek ways to streamline workflows and expand coverage amid resource constraints. However, it also raises questions about the potential impact on the quality and integrity of news reporting, as well as the future of traditional journalistic skills like writing.

The details

According to editor Chris Quinn, the reporters on the Lorain, Lake, Geauga, and Medina County beats are now assigned solely to reporting, spending their time on in-person interviews and meeting sources. The AI rewrite specialist then takes the reporters' gathered material and generates initial article drafts, which are reviewed by editors before the reporters have the final say on publication. Quinn says this arrangement has effectively freed up an extra workday per week for each reporter.

  • Cleveland.com adopted this model last year to expand local coverage.
  • The newsroom's use of AI was recently discussed in a February 14 letter from Quinn, after a college journalism student withdrew from a reporting role over the practice.

The players

Cleveland.com

The digital arm of Ohio's Plain Dealer newspaper.

Chris Quinn

The editor of Cleveland.com who described the newsroom's use of an "AI rewrite specialist" to generate article drafts.

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What they’re saying

“Journalism schools have repeatedly told students that AI is bad.”

— Chris Quinn, Editor, Cleveland.com (Slashdot)

What’s next

The newsroom's use of AI in the article drafting process is likely to continue being a topic of discussion, as concerns about the potential impact on journalistic quality and integrity are weighed against the benefits of increased efficiency and expanded coverage.

The takeaway

Cleveland.com's adoption of an AI-powered article drafting process highlights the growing role of technology in the journalism industry, as newsrooms seek ways to streamline workflows and expand coverage. However, this move also raises important questions about the future of traditional journalistic skills and the potential impact on the quality and integrity of news reporting.