Build reader trust in the AI era: Start with your author bios

This is the first edition of Beyond the Byline, a column written by Indiegraf’s Entrepreneur in Residence for AI, Laura E. Davis. It focuses on highly actionable, no-nonsense strategies to help your newsroom stand out and thrive in an era of AI slop and eroding audience trust.

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Your AI strategy doesn't have to start with AI

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Here at Indiegraf, we think a local newsroom AI strategy is not just focused on technology. There are things you can do right now in Indiegraf OS to help your newsroom build resilience in the AI era that don’t require ever touching AI. One of those things is expanding author bios.

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Start here: make sure every reporter has a bio

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First, make sure every reporter and editor in your newsroom has filled out their bio on your site. In an era when AI makes trusting any piece of content online harder, it’s one simple way you can let your audience know that there are real humans behind your work. But don’t stop at just filling out the bio: Use it as a space for people to get to know you, your expertise and more about why and how you do your work. Here are some examples from the Indiegraf network that we like:

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Annelise Pierce, Shasta Scout

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Sandra Hernandez, The Houston Home Journal

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Chris Campbell, The Ridge

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All of these bios balance personal interests with professional expertise, and they build credibility with their focus on community and mission. If you need more tips or inspiration for crafting bios to build trust, check out this resource from Trusting News.

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How to update your author bio in Indiegraf OS

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Updating your bio on Indiegraf OS is easy. On the left-hand menu, scroll down to “Users,” then click on “Author Profile.” You can update or add your bio and a photo in the “Biographical Info” section. Get further instructions here and a video walkthrough here.Don't let your bios sit on one page

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Once you have those strong bios, consider sharing the links more often with your audience on social media and link to them from newsletters. In this day and age, people trust people over brands. Now, we know that sometimes journalists are subjected to harassment, and we always want you to prioritize safety. But as much as you feel comfortable, remind your audience about who’s behind your work.

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This column is the first in a series we’re calling Beyond the Byline, where we’ll share practical and achievable advice related to AI strategy that any newsroom can implement, regardless of your approach to adopting AI tools. We chose the name because the strategies revolve around the humans in your newsroom. There are big and small things you can do to help your audience get to know—and trust—you more as they, too, adapt to the ways AI is reshaping the information landscape.

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We’re focused on no-AI strategies in this  series, and we’ll ensure that if you’re committed to not using AI in your newsroom, Indiegraf OS will not force you to adopt it. But there are some AI features we’re testing for publishers that want to use them. They’re focused on accessibility and efficiency in the editorial process, such as generating alt text for your images, producing a story summary, making headline suggestions and helping you cut or expand paragraphs in your stories.