Overview

• The Chicago Sun-Times published a summer reading list containing 10 fictitious books out of 15, many falsely attributed to real authors like Isabel Allende and Percival Everett.
• Freelance writer Marco Buscaglia admitted to using AI tools to compile the list and accepted full responsibility for the error.
• The Sun-Times has terminated the contributor, refunded subscribers for the edition, and pledged tighter oversight of AI-generated and third-party content.
• King Features, the syndication service behind the list, confirmed a policy violation by the freelancer and ended their relationship with the individual.
• The incident highlights challenges in journalism as economic pressures and newsroom staff cuts increase reliance on syndicated and AI-generated content.