Dr. Sun Young Lee Awarded a 2026 Senior Scholar Grant from AEJMC

Congrats to Dr. Lee on this great achievement!

COMM Associate Professor Dr. Sun Young Lee has been awarded a 2026 Senior Scholar Grant from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)! 

The Senior Scholar Grants Program supports AEJMC researchers in a wide area of study and seeks to support senior (typically tenured) scholars engaged in extended research projects.

Dr. Lee has won a Senior Scholar Grant with Dr. Sungwon Chung of Ball State for their project, "AI Disclosure in Journalism: How Disclosure Wording and Editorial Oversight Influence Trust and Engagement." 

Their project abstract is as follows: "Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping journalism, from drafting stories to producing visuals. As these practices expand, audiences have become increasingly concerned about transparency, misinformation, and the absence of human judgment. Yet U.S. newsrooms lack consistent disclosure policies, often relying on vague or poorly designed labels that erode trust, or omitting disclosures altogether out of fear of backlash. The challenge is especially pressing for visuals, where AI can alter realism and interpretation. This project provides the first systematic, theory-driven tests of which disclosure strategies are most effective and why, within a unified study design. Across three online experiments, it investigates how (a) disclosure wording signaling the degree of AI involvement (humanwritten, AI-assisted, AI-generated), (b) editorial oversight cues (present vs. absent), and (c) topic stakes (low vs. high) jointly shape audience responses. It also examines how individual differences in AI literacy (knowledge of AI’s capabilities and societal impact) and AI content aversion (resistance to AI-involved content) moderate these effects.

Findings will reveal how combinations of disclosure wording and oversight shape audience responses—for example, whether even “AI-generated” content can be viewed as acceptable when accompanied by clear editorial review. These insights will offer evidence-based strategies for journalists and actionable guidance for policymakers considering standardized disclosure practices. Ultimately, the project seeks to promote AI adoption in journalism that reinforces transparency, accountability, and democratic trust."

Congrats on being recognized for this impressive research work!