DUBLIN – Mediahuis, the Belgian-owned publisher of the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent, has suspended a senior journalist after he admitted to fabricating quotes using artificial intelligence (AI) in his online writing. Peter Vandermeersch, currently serving as a Fellow “Journalism and Society” with the company, was previously chief executive of Mediahuis Ireland from 2022 to 2025. The incident highlights growing concerns about the ethical implications of using AI in journalism and the potential for misinformation.
The suspension follows an investigation by Dutch newspaper NRC, similarly part of the Mediahuis group, which revealed that 15 of 53 blog posts written by Vandermeersch on the Substack platform contained quotes that could not be verified in the original sources he cited. Seven individuals quoted by Vandermeersch confirmed they never made the statements attributed to them, according to reporting from The Irish Times. This issue of AI-generated content and journalistic integrity is becoming increasingly relevant as news organizations experiment with new technologies.
Admission of Misconduct
Vandermeersch publicly acknowledged his errors in a statement titled “I am admitting my mistake,” published on Substack. He explained that he had used AI language models – including ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Notebook – to summarize reports and subsequently relied on those summaries when writing. “Even I – with all my years of experience and knowledge – fell into the trap of hallucinations,” he wrote, admitting he “wrongly put words into people’s mouths” and should have presented them as paraphrases. He further stated that he was aware of the risks of AI-generated quotes, having repeatedly warned colleagues about their potential for inaccuracy, but still succumbed to their allure. RTÉ reports that Vandermeersch served as Editor-in-Chief of NRC Media in the Netherlands for nine years prior to his role in Ireland.
Impact and Response from Mediahuis
Mediahuis has removed eight of Vandermeersch’s articles from the independent.ie website and app in response to the findings. The company has not specified the length of Vandermeersch’s suspension, but confirmed it was a temporary measure. The incident raises questions about the oversight and verification processes within Mediahuis, and the broader challenges facing news organizations as they integrate AI tools into their workflows. The publisher controls a significant portion of the Irish media landscape, overseeing the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, and a variety of other national and regional titles.
The Role of AI in Journalism
The case underscores the potential pitfalls of relying on AI for journalistic tasks, even for experienced professionals. AI language models, while powerful, are prone to “hallucinations” – generating false or misleading information that appears plausible. The temptation to use AI-generated content to expedite the writing process can lead to a compromise in journalistic standards, as Vandermeersch himself acknowledged. The incident is likely to fuel further debate about the responsible use of AI in newsrooms and the need for robust fact-checking procedures.
Vandermeersch’s Career Trajectory
Prior to his role as Fellow “Journalism and Society” five months ago, Vandermeersch led Mediahuis Ireland as chief executive from 2022 to 2025. Before that, he held the position of publisher within the Irish organization, then known as Independent News & Media, from 2019 to 2022. The Irish Independent notes that Mediahuis took control of the Irish company in 2019.
The use of AI in journalism, while offering potential benefits in terms of efficiency and data analysis, demands a cautious and ethical approach. This incident serves as a stark reminder that human oversight and rigorous fact-checking remain essential components of responsible journalism. The investigation by NRC, a Mediahuis title, demonstrates a commitment to internal accountability, even when it involves senior leadership.
Mediahuis has not announced a timeline for the conclusion of its investigation or a decision regarding Vandermeersch’s future with the company. Further updates will likely be provided as the situation develops.
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