Four Finance Writers Could Not Be Verified as Real People, Investigation Finds
Press Gazette identified four writers who collectively published over 1,000 articles across major financial outlets-including CoinTelegraph and Forbes-but could not confirm they exist as real journalists.
The four names are Nikolai Kuznetsov, Reuben Jackson, Luis Aureliano, and Joe Liebkind. Attempts to verify their identities failed. Profile pictures linked to some bylines appeared to be AI-generated or recycled images. LinkedIn accounts showed minimal professional history.
Press Gazette found connections between the writers and Market Across, an Israeli blockchain public relations firm. Many articles promoted cryptocurrency projects associated with the company.
The investigation could not conclusively determine whether these were fabricated identities, pseudonymous contributors, or real people using altered profiles. Investopedia removed articles by Joe Liebkind after being contacted by Press Gazette.
AI Use in Newsrooms Is Now Widespread
A November 2025 Reuters Institute survey of 1,004 UK journalists found that 56% use AI professionally at least once a week.
Journalists most commonly use AI for transcription, translation, and copy editing. Many also use it for research, brainstorming, headline generation, and drafting articles.
The same survey revealed significant concern about the technology. Sixty-two percent of journalists viewed AI as a "large" or "very large" threat to journalism. Sixty percent said they were "extremely concerned" about AI's impact on public trust.
Trust Between Journalists and Audiences at Risk
Award-winning journalist Margaret Simons warned that AI could damage the relationship between journalists and readers. Writing in The Guardian, she said this relationship is foundational to public trust in news.
AI-generated search summaries already reduce traffic to news outlets by giving readers condensed information without requiring them to visit media sites. "Fewer people are clicking through to news media outlets in search of the news," Simons said.
She also noted that AI systems prioritize user prompts and behavioral data rather than editorial judgment or civic responsibility. "An AI-dominated model responds only to questions about specific topics. It does not care about you as a fellow citizen."
Tech Companies and News Organizations Sign Multimillion-Dollar Deals
Major partnerships between technology companies and newsrooms are accelerating AI adoption in editorial work.
In 2024, Microsoft partnered with Semafor and other journalism organizations to help reporters use generative AI tools. Semafor launched a global breaking news feed called Signals, which uses Microsoft and OpenAI technology to produce "diverse, sophisticated perspectives and insights on the biggest stories in the world as they develop."
News Corp, Vox, and The Atlantic have also signed lucrative licensing contracts with OpenAI and Google.
What This Means for Writers
The investigation raises practical questions for writers working in finance and crypto journalism. How do you establish credibility when AI-generated bylines exist alongside real journalists? How do you differentiate your work when newsrooms are automating content production?
Understanding AI for Writers and Generative AI and LLM technologies helps writers navigate these shifts-both to use AI effectively and to understand where human judgment remains irreplaceable.
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