Fake News at Machine Speed: Inside AI’s Impact on Media Trust
The Media Copilot
Alex’s path from economics to MediaWise
Alex Mahadevan recounts his move from economics to journalism and how he joined Poynter to lead MediaWise and AI work.
Poynter’s Alex Mahadevan explains how newsrooms can use AI without losing the fundamentals of verification, context, and accountability.
By The Copilot
AI is already embedded in how people discover and consume news, from search to chat interfaces to automated summaries. So the question is no longer whether journalism will be shaped by AI. It’s how newsrooms maintain trust while experimenting responsibly.
In this episode of The Media Copilot podcast, Pete Pachal sits down with Alex Mahadevan, Director of MediaWise and a faculty member at Poynter, to unpack what media literacy looks like now that anyone can generate convincing content at scale. Alex shares how his background in data and local journalism shaped his approach to tools, why public-facing AI ethics policies matter, and what it will take for news organizations to bring audiences along for the next phase of the information ecosystem.
Why this matters
Trust is the core product. AI can either widen the trust gap with errors and low-quality content, or help rebuild credibility through transparency, better products, and clearer communication about how journalism is made. This conversation gets practical about what responsible AI use looks like, where disclosures help and where they can unintentionally slow innovation, and why the newsroom AI divide is becoming a real competitive advantage for organizations that adapt.
What we cover
• Alex’s journey into journalism and the global mission of MediaWise
• How AI is reshaping misinformation, trust, and newsroom transparency
• Practical uses of chatbots, coding agents, and AI workflows
• The widening divide between AI enthusiasts and skeptics in newsrooms
• Ethics, job concerns, and gray areas around AI-assisted writing
• What the future of news may look like beyond traditional articles
About the 👤 Guest
About the show: To explore more conversations like this and see what’s new, visit the freshly updated Media Copilot website at mediacopilot.ai. You’ll find new episodes, expanded resources, and tools designed for journalists, communicators, and media leaders navigating the fast-changing world of AI. It’s the home base for everything Media Copilot and it’s just getting started.
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Produced by Pete Pachal and Executive Producer Michele Musso
Edited by the Musso Media Team
Music: “Favorite” by Alexander Nakarada, licensed under CC BY 4.0
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