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A new website purporting to report local news from a British town has been set up using fake journalist profiles, an HTFP investigation has found.
The photographs, taken from a stock image archive, were used to illustrate a series of profiles of journalists by the Bournemouth Observer, which claims to be a new independent title serving Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.
The Observer, which also offers a range of advertising opportunities, had originally approached HTFP about the possibility of listing a directory on our site, but Paul Giles, a representative for the title, asked us to provide some background information. Since they refused to provide basic details, I decided to investigate. Journalists listed or confirmed that they were real people.
Some of the Observer’s content also raises questions about whether AI is being used to create copies of two incidents reported by the site after police were unable to find them. is also occurring.
Bournemouth Observer homepage
The ‘Meet the Team’ page on the website, which has now been removed following our inquiry, listed photos and biographies of 11 staff members, but an online reverse image search tool revealed headshots. After cross-referencing, I found that all 11 people’s photos were included. It was a stock image.
At least 7 images are from the same stock photo archive – istockphoto.com
The biography of David Roberts, described as a “respected editor” of the Observer with a “decades-long career in journalism”, also contained inconsistencies.
Despite the Observer being launched as an online-only title only last month, he claimed he has “proven his expertise and leadership to the newspaper for several years”.
A biography of David Roberts, believed to be the editor of the Bournemouth Observer.Includes photos from stock image archives
News reporter Simon Foster’s profile describes him as a “middle-aged journalist” and “a highly respected local voice in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch”, while motoring writer William Alexander writes: A seasoned journalist with over 15 years of experience in the field of automotive journalism. ”
However, our searches did not turn up any records of their previous careers or those of any of the other “journalists” listed anywhere online.
Observer profile of “middle-aged journalist” Simon Foster
Giles provides further evidence that the journalists featured on the site are real people, reveals why they are depicted in stock photos and whether their biographies were written by AI tools I have repeatedly asked him to do so, but he has refused.
The articles on the site, which will start publishing in early June and aim to eventually be published in print, will include a mix of local and national content, as well as It also includes a page purporting to post letters from readers on the subject. .
Local news reports describe an undated alleged “robbery” at a Tesco supermarket in the Southbourne suburb, with an eyewitness saying she and a friend “felt like they were in the middle of the infamous Los Angeles riots.” “It was,” he said. ”
Another article reported that a cyclist was seriously injured at a ‘Bournemouth roundabout’ on June 16th.
We contacted Dorset Police, whose media office told HTFP they were not aware of either incident and that they had enough information to search police records about the reported incidents. He said no.
We therefore asked Mr Giles to provide any dates or police incident reference numbers relating to the Southbourne incident, but he was unable to provide them.
However, he admitted that the date of the article about the cyclist was incorrect, and the Observer article was subsequently updated to match the date of a similar incident on June 22nd, and others such as Newsquest’s Bournemouth Echo and others It was also reported by the local news station.
However, other details in the Observer’s article remain vague, and it does not specify that the incident took place at Lansdowne Roundabout, as reported by the Echo.
Mr. Giles declined to answer many of our specific questions, but was happy to provide the following information via email:
“We are proud to announce the launch of the Bournemouth Observer, an ambitious and far-reaching newspaper dedicated to serving the communities of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch,” he wrote.
“This move from digital to print will create a newspaper that offers comprehensive coverage covering areas of interest to local residents, including news, business, motoring, environment and finance.
“The Bournemouth Observer’s focus remains at the center as we navigate this exciting journey. [sic] To provide insightful, up-to-date, and compelling information on topics that are important to our readers. Through our online platform and impending move to print, our readers will have easy access to high-quality content.
He continued: “The Bournemouth Observer is proud of its strong editorial team, each of whom bring a wealth of experience and unique perspectives to their respective fields.
“Our esteemed editor, David Roberts, is the foundation of our team. His long career in journalism has been distinguished by a talent for finding impactful stories and an unwavering dedication to journalistic integrity. It formed the basis of his role at the Bournemouth Observer.
“Our diverse team of experts includes Simon Foster, who leads the news; William Alexander, who heads up the automotive industry; David Spalding, who heads up business; Rupert Matthews, who heads up finance. Management. Sophie Daniels lights up the entertainment department. Elizabeth Bancroft, environmental reporting guru. Lisa Withing, curates health topics. Carmen Beaumont, nurtures the gardening beat. And insightful reviews. This is Judie Knight.
“This team is supported by a dedicated cadre of administrative and general staff, each of whom play an integral role in keeping the Bournemouth Observer running smoothly.
“The launch of the Bournemouth Observer was born out of a desire to revive the traditional spirit of newspaper journalism, which prioritizes content over clutter.
“Today’s local newspapers often overwhelm readers with excessive advertising, which undermines the quality and relevance of their content. The Bournemouth Observer is committed to charting a different course. .
“We are steadfast in our mission to cover topics that resonate with our local readers and provide them with a smooth navigation experience on our pages. Focused on providing rich and engaging content By doing so, we aim to differentiate ourselves from our competitors and become a trusted source of information for our readers.
“We envision the Bournemouth Observer going from strength to strength. Our initial efforts will be underpinned by a comprehensive marketing strategy to establish a presence in the local news market. However, our long-term growth will be driven by the quality of our products and the loyalty of our readers.”
Horticulture author Carmen Beaumont’s profile has now been removed along with biographies of other journalists on the site
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