Signal vs slop: Journalists on the evolution of research-driven reporting

In this session, Tod Beardsley (runZero) is joined by veteran security journalists Steve Ragan (1Password), Dennis Fisher (Decipher), and Bill Brenner (CyberSec Media) to discuss the shifting landscape of investigative reporting and the rise of slop in the age of AI. The group reflects on how the decline of traditional media funding has led many journalists to cross over to the "vendor side," where brand journalism now fills the gap left by shrinking newsrooms. They highlight the delicate balance between maintaining editorial independence and navigating the business pressures of advertising and pay-to-play content.

The conversation dives deep into the impact of Large Language Models (LLMs) on the quality of security reporting. The journalists warn against the growing trend of automated slop — content that lacks the human tone, cadence, and emotional nuance required for effective communication. They share their own experiences using AI as a power user tool for summarizing technical reports or overcoming writer's block, while emphasizing the absolute necessity of human oversight to verify facts, check math, and inject a distinct authorial voice.