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AI Disclosure Statement

AI: A Tool to Enhance Local Journalism

We use artificial intelligence (AI) as a support tool to help our team work more efficiently and expand our coverage. AI is never used to replace journalists – it assists with tasks like editing, research and routine content. We are committed to upholding the values outlined in our Privacy & Statement of Principles, including accuracy, fairness, privacy, and transparency. In addition, we follow the Australian Press Council’s Statement of Principles. All AI-assisted content is reviewed and approved by our editorial team to ensure it meets our standards for accuracy, clarity and integrity.

How and Where We Use AI

  • Podcast narration: AI-generated voices may be used to narrate some podcast segments, improving accessibility and speed to publish.
  • Research support: Journalists may use AI to scan or summarise long documents, such as council minutes or government reports, to help identify key information.
  • Copy editing: AI tools may assist with grammar, spelling and tone improvements in human-written drafts. Final content is always reviewed and approved by a journalist or editor.
  • Routine content: AI may be used to draft basic updates (e.g. weather summaries or event listings) based on trusted data sources.
  • SEO and visibility: We may use AI tools to refine headlines or suggest keywords so stories are easier to find online. Editors always approve final wording.

What You Can Expect

  • Human-centred journalism: Our team remains responsible for all published content. AI is used as a support tool, not a replacement.
  • Editorial oversight: Every piece of AI-assisted content is reviewed by a human before publication to ensure accuracy, fairness and clarity.
  • Ethical use: We don’t use AI to fabricate content, impersonate real people or mislead readers. We don’t input private or sensitive information into public AI tools.
  • Transparency: We’ll identify AI use in content where relevant and update this policy as needed.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have questions about our use of AI or wish to raise a concern, please visit our Contact page or get in touch with our editorial team. We welcome feedback from our readers and value your trust.