NextNow covers artificial intelligence and may use AI-assisted tools and editorial automation in its own newsroom. These tools can improve speed and organization, but they do not replace source verification, editorial accountability or the obligation to correct errors.
Effective Aug. 9, 2026.
Permitted uses
AI-assisted tools may support news monitoring, research organization, transcription, document review, data processing, interview preparation, drafting, editing, formatting, metadata, headline development and workflow administration.
AI is not a source
An AI system is not treated as an eyewitness, expert or independent source. Factual claims, figures, dates, quotations, citations and attributions surfaced or generated by AI must be checked against reliable evidence. We prohibit invented quotations, fabricated citations and unsupported claims.
Automatic publication
Automated breaking-news publishing is limited to stories that meet defined editorial gates. A qualifying story must have a clear consequence for NextNow readers, sufficient reliable sourcing, no unresolved factual conflict, an original article, a documented and rights-cleared image, complete section and article-type classification, and required SEO, social and source-provenance metadata.
NextNow requires at least two reliable source URLs for an automatically published news article and seeks an authoritative primary source plus credible independent confirmation whenever available. Anonymous-source reporting, unresolved allegations, rumors and high-risk claims requiring expert review are not eligible for unattended publication. A story that fails any gate remains unpublished for human review.
Bylines and responsibility
AI-assisted breaking-news briefs may be credited to the NextNow Breaking News Desk or NextNow News Desk. A desk byline identifies the responsible newsroom function; it does not imply that an automated system is a person. Interview-driven features and analysis are assigned to the accountable human journalist or editor.
NextNow remains responsible for every published article regardless of which tools assisted in producing it.
Interviews and quotations
AI may help organize interview responses or transcripts, but quoted language must remain faithful to the source record. Material edits that could change meaning are not permitted. Sources may clarify factual information, but they do not receive approval over independent conclusions or the completed article.
Confidential and sensitive information
We do not intentionally submit confidential source material, embargoed information or sensitive nonpublic data to third-party AI systems without appropriate safeguards and authorization. Access to reporting records should be limited to the people and systems needed for the work.
Images and synthetic media
Automatically published news articles require a real, relevant image with documented rights. AI-generated images are not used as documentary featured images for automatically published breaking news. Synthetic or materially altered visuals that could be mistaken for reality must be clearly disclosed.
Disclosure
NextNow discloses AI assistance when it is material to how a reader should evaluate the work or when an automated publishing workflow produced the article. Routine tools such as spelling, transcription or formatting support may not receive a separate article-level disclosure unless their role was material.
Corrections and review
The same Corrections Policy applies to all work. Automation does not reduce the newsroom’s responsibility to correct, clarify, update or, in rare cases, withdraw an article.