Readers' Perception of Computer-Written News: Credibility, Expertise, and Readability

• In Event: Perceived Credibility Online

Abstract

We conducted an online experiment to study people’s perception of automated computer-written news. Using a 2×2×2 design, we varied the article topic (sports, finance; within-subjects) and both the articles’ actual and declared source (human-written, computer-written; between subjects). 986 subjects rated two articles on credibility, readability, and journalistic expertise. Varying the declared source had small but consistent effects: subjects rated articles declared as human-written always more favorably, regardless of the actual source. Varying the actual source had larger effects: subjects rated computer-written articles as more credible and higher in journalistic expertise but less readable. Across topics, subjects’ perceptions did not differ. The results provide conservative estimates for the favorability of computer-written news, which will further increase over time, and endorse prior calls for establishing ethics of computer-written news.

Authors

• Andreas Graefe, LMU Munich

• Mario Haim, LMU Munich

• Bastian Haarmann, Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics

• Hans-Bernd Brosius, Ludwig Maximilian U Munich