The Chicago Sun-Times faces backlash after publishing a summer reading list featuring completely fabricated books generated by artificial intelligence, highlighting growing concerns about AI’s role in traditional journalism.
At a Glance
- The Chicago Sun-Times published a summer reading guide featuring 10 non-existent books created by AI
- Freelance writer Marco Buscaglia admitted to using AI without verification, saying “Stupidly, and 100% on me, I just kind of republished this list that [an AI program] spit out”
- Chicago Public Media CEO Melissa Bell announced the section was pulled and subscribers wouldn’t be charged
- King Features Syndicate terminated its relationship with Buscaglia for violating AI usage policies
- The incident raises serious questions about editorial oversight and AI use in mainstream media
Fake Books Published as Legitimate Summer Reading
Readers opening the Chicago Sun-Times’ 64-page “Heat Index: Your Guide to the Best of Summer” were met with recommendations for books that don’t exist. The special section, distributed in Sunday’s edition, contained a reading list with 10 AI-generated book titles falsely attributed to real authors. Among those wrongly cited was acclaimed writer Min Jin Lee, who took to social media to clarify: “I have not written and will not be writing a novel called ‘Nightshade Market.’ Thank you.”
The fabricated content came to light when readers attempted to locate these recommended books at libraries and bookstores. The embarrassing blunder has forced Chicago Public Media, which owns the Sun-Times, to take swift action by removing the section from online versions and promising not to charge subscribers for it. The error originated from content provided by King Features Syndicate, a partner company that supplies material to various publications.
”This is just idiotic of me, really embarrassed,” said the author of the list, who is not an employee of the newspaper. https://t.co/V4wffxJzIu
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) May 21, 2025
Freelancer Takes Full Responsibility
Marco Buscaglia, the freelance writer responsible for the reading list, has admitted to using artificial intelligence without proper verification. In his statements to the press, Buscaglia offered no excuses for the oversight, saying, “I just straight up missed it. I can’t blame anybody else.” He further acknowledged the obvious nature of the error, adding, “This time, I did not and I can’t believe I missed it because it’s so obvious. No excuses.”
“On me 100 percent and I’m completely embarrassed,” Marco Buscaglia said.
King Features Syndicate responded by terminating its relationship with Buscaglia. A spokesperson stated: “King Features has a strict policy with our staff, cartoonists, columnists, and freelance writers against the use of AI to create content. The Heat Index summer supplement was created by a freelance content creator who used AI in its story development without disclosing the use of AI. We are terminating our relationship with this individual.”
𝙒𝙃𝙔 𝙒𝙀 𝙉𝙀𝙀𝘿 𝘼 𝙎𝙊𝙐𝙍𝘾𝙀 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙍𝙐𝙏𝙃
Last week, the Chicago Sun-Times and Philadelphia Inquirer published a syndicated summer reading list that included 𝙛𝙖𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝙄. Among the fictional titles was Tidewater Dreams… pic.twitter.com/dVah5s0VCF— AlwaysSunnyNYC (@AlwaysSunnyNYC) May 21, 2025
Newspaper’s Response and Industry Implications
The Sun-Times quickly addressed the error, with representatives stating that the content was licensed and not created or approved by their newsroom. This distinction has prompted the Sun-Times Guild to express concern about AI-generated content appearing alongside their journalists’ work. The Philadelphia Inquirer also published the same AI-generated content, further demonstrating the ripple effects of this editorial failure.
“We are in a moment of great transformation in journalism and technology, and at the same time, our industry continues to be besieged by business challenges. This should be a learning moment for all journalism organizations: Our work is valued — and valuable — because of the humanity behind it,” Melissa Bell said.
The incident highlights the growing pains traditional media outlets face as they navigate the integration of AI tools. Chicago Public Media has promised to be more transparent about third-party content and is reviewing its relationship with content partners. Most importantly, they’ve pledged to strengthen editorial oversight to ensure accuracy in all published materials, whether generated by humans or with assistance from AI.
Commitments to Prevent Future Failures
In response to the public outcry, Chicago Public Media is taking steps to address the situation and prevent similar incidents. CEO Melissa Bell expressed being “deeply disappointed that this story distracts from the incredible journalism happening every day at our organization.” The company has emphasized its commitment to providing accurate information to readers and acknowledged that the section was published without proper editorial review.
“We are committed to making sure this never happens again. We know that there is work to be done to provide more answers and transparency around the production and publication of this section, and will share additional updates in the coming days,” Melissa added.
The Sun-Times has reaffirmed its dedication to traditional journalistic principles, maintaining that while AI may assist in certain tasks, human oversight remains essential. For conservative readers concerned about media integrity, this incident serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of replacing human judgment with artificial intelligence in our trusted institutions.
