How Public Sector Media is Covering AI – and How You Can Drive the Conversation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming government agencies at every level. Federal, state, and local governments increasingly deploy AI to modernize, strengthen, and deliver faster public services and resources. As agencies adopt AI, the public sector media is just as quickly redefining how the technology is perceived, judged, and understood.

At REQ, we’re deeply embedded in the evolution of AI, engaging daily with clients and journalists focused on public sector innovation, technology policy, and cybersecurity. Drawing on this expertise, we developed our new white paper, Public Sector AI: What the Media is Covering and How to Drive the Conversation. This paper explores how government media covers AI, highlights the top trends reporters follow, and offers guidance on how you can lead and shape these critical conversations.

Here’s a preview of some of the topics covered and the insights you’ll discover.

Modernization and Infrastructure Upgrades Remain a Top Story

Thought modernization was yesterday’s news? Think again. Modernization remains a top news story, especially given the renewed emphasis on government efficiency. In our white paper, you’ll learn:

• Key considerations for telling compelling AI modernization stories
• The importance of addressing scalability and implementation challenges
• The need to showcase innovative approaches to generative AI integration
• How to leverage journalists' interest in AI’s use in smart cities, emergency response, environmental monitoring, and more

Cybersecurity: From Risk to Resilience

Reporters increasingly frame AI as both a potential defender and a vulnerability, with AI trustworthiness a significant point of discussion. How do you address AI's positive and negative aspects and position your organization as a leader in responsible cybersecurity? We’ll tell you:

• How the rise of synthetic media/deepfakes is fueling skepticism of AI
• How to get in front of reporters seeking credible sources on safeguarding information integrity
• Why it’s essential to position your solutions as proactive protectors of transparency, trust, and integrity

Citizen Services and Generative AI Experiments

Journalists are closely monitoring the evolution of AI and how chatbots and generative AI assistants are used in citizen services. But for every positive use case, there’s a question about how organizations validate AI outputs, ensure information authenticity, and what safeguards prevent misinformation. Our white paper covers:

• Why human-in-the-loop oversight is essential for protecting citizen trust.
• How to use transparency around AI outputs (validation and provenance) as a competitive messaging edge.
• Telling citizen-centered impact stories emphasizing fairness, accessibility, and improved outcomes grabs journalists’ attention.

Defense and National Security: AI at the Tactical Edge

Journalists closely track how AI enhances tactical advantage, battlefield decision-making, and warfighter safety. They’re also grappling with risks around loss of human command, adversarial exploitation, and the use of synthetic media in disinformation campaigns targeting military operations. What’s the best way to approach this challenging topic? You’ll learn:

• Why it’s vital to create thought leadership that addresses the benefits and concerns of AI in the military 
• Why real-world case studies are essential, and how to use them appropriately
• The importance of positioning your organization as a leading voice in AI for national defense

Ready to learn more? Dive into Public Sector AI: What the Media is Covering and How to Drive the Conversation, and discover how the media covers AI and how you can shape their reporting.