Moree Online News uses artificial intelligence tools carefully and transparently to support local journalism, not replace it.
Our reporting is based on human judgement, local knowledge, verification and editorial responsibility. AI tools may help with parts of our workflow, but Moree Online News remains responsible for everything it publishes.
What we mean by AI
Artificial intelligence tools can help create, organise, summarise, edit or analyse text, images, audio, video and data.
At Moree Online News, AI is treated as a tool. It is not a reporter, editor, source or substitute for human judgement.
How we may use AI
Moree Online News may use AI tools to help with:
- organising notes, transcripts and background material;
- summarising public documents, reports, meeting papers or datasets;
- transcribing interviews, meetings or recordings;
- preparing draft questions, checklists or research prompts;
- improving spelling, grammar, readability, structure or headline options;
- preparing article summaries, newsletter summaries, social media summaries and accessibility text;
- creating alt text, transcripts or other accessibility support;
- organising community information such as dates, times, locations and event details;
- preparing internal business, advertising and administrative material.
Any editorial material prepared with AI assistance must be checked by a human before publication.
What we do not use AI for
Moree Online News will not knowingly use AI to:
- invent quotes, sources, events, documents or facts;
- replace direct reporting where direct reporting is required;
- publish AI-generated news articles without human review;
- use AI as the sole source for factual claims;
- make final editorial decisions about newsworthiness, fairness or publication;
- create or alter images, audio or video of real people, real places or real events in a way that could mislead readers;
- materially alter news photographs, video or audio beyond normal editing such as cropping, resizing, colour correction, sound correction or accessibility improvements;
- input confidential source material, private information or sensitive unpublished material into public AI tools without appropriate safeguards.
Accuracy and responsibility
AI tools can make mistakes. They can omit context, introduce bias, misread documents or produce material that sounds correct but is wrong.
Moree Online News checks facts, names, dates, quotes and claims before publication. Final editorial responsibility always rests with Moree Online News.
Transparency and disclosure
Moree Online News aims to be open with readers about the use of AI where that use is significant, unusual or material to how published content was created.
We do not generally disclose routine workflow uses of AI, such as transcription support, spelling and grammar checks, headline brainstorming, formatting help, summarising public documents for internal review, organising notes or preparing accessibility text.
We will consider disclosure where AI has materially generated, transformed or presented content that readers may reasonably want to know was AI-assisted. This may include AI-generated illustrations, graphics, audio, video, interactive tools, automated summaries or other audience-facing products.
Where disclosure is needed, it will be clear and practical.
Images, audio and video
Visual and audio material can strongly influence how readers understand a story.
Moree Online News will not use AI-generated images, audio or video as if they are real records of local people, places or events. Where AI-generated or AI-altered visual material is used, it must support the story, not distort it, and it should be labelled where needed.
Normal image and audio editing, such as cropping, resizing, colour correction, noise reduction, compression or formatting for publication, is not treated as generative AI use.
Privacy, copyright and third-party material
Moree Online News aims to use AI tools in a way that respects privacy, copyright, defamation law and editorial obligations.
Contributors, contractors and third-party content providers are expected to meet the same standards when supplying material for publication.
Feedback
Readers can contact Moree Online News if they have questions about our use of AI or believe published material does not meet these standards.
Email: news@moreeonlinenews.com.au
Review
This policy will be reviewed regularly as AI tools, newsroom practice and reader expectations change.