Dallas Weekly Statement on the Use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Our Newsroom

At Dallas Weekly, our mission is to provide accurate, ethical, and community-driven journalism that serves the people of Dallas and beyond. As technology evolves, including the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), we believe it is important to be transparent about how these tools may be used in our newsroom.

1. AI as a Support Tool, Not a Replacement
AI is used only to assist our journalists with tasks such as transcription, research, data sorting, and brainstorming. It is never used as a substitute for the reporting, writing, or editorial judgment of our newsroom staff. All published journalism is created, reviewed, and approved by human editors.

2. Human Oversight and Accountability
Every story we publish is held to the same journalistic standards of accuracy, fairness, and accountability. If AI is used in the reporting or production process, a human journalist reviews all outputs and takes full responsibility for the final work.

3. Ethical Guardrails
We do not use AI to generate news articles without human involvement. We do not allow AI tools to fabricate quotes, create false information, or misrepresent individuals, organizations, or communities. We also do not use AI for photo or video manipulation in ways that could mislead the public.

4. Transparency With Our Readers
When AI is used in a significant way that impacts what the reader sees (for example, in data visualization, translation, or automated transcripts), we will disclose this use openly. Our commitment is to be honest with our readers about the role of AI in our reporting.

5. Privacy and Community Protection
We are mindful of the sensitive nature of community reporting. AI tools we use must meet data-security standards and protect the privacy of sources and community members. We will not share personal information with AI tools that could compromise safety or trust.

6. Continuous Evaluation
Like many small and local newsrooms, we view AI as an evolving tool. We will continue to monitor industry standards, learn from peer organizations, and update our policies to reflect best practices and the needs of our community.

AI is simply one tool among many that helps us do our work. The heart of Dallas Weekly’s reporting—our people, our voices, our community—remains fully human.

**Published September 2025