Embracing AI with Accountability in Community Journalism
- Dennis Phillips
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it is a present-day tool, already embedded in the workflows of modern newsrooms, including those in small towns and rural counties. Community newspapers, just like their national counterparts, are navigating how best to incorporate AI into their daily operations while maintaining trust, transparency, and editorial integrity.
AI offers real promise. From transcribing interviews to assisting with data analysis and helping organize complex records, AI can streamline time-consuming tasks. But as with any powerful tool, its use must come with clearly defined boundaries. We believe that embracing AI must never come at the expense of truth, transparency, or the essential human judgment that defines quality journalism.
Transparency and Disclosure
As community newspapers, we have a duty to be upfront with our readers. When AI is used in any significant way—whether for organizing public records, analyzing data sets, or assisting in drafting content—that involvement should be disclosed. Readers have a right to know how their news is being created and who (or what) is involved in the process.
We believe in disclosing AI involvement when it meaningfully contributes to content development. If AI helps generate a first draft, organize election results, or assist in summarizing a public meeting transcript, that will be noted. You trust us to report with integrity, and that includes how the work is produced.
Prohibited Uses
The role of AI in journalism should be supportive, not substitutive. Under no circumstances should AI be allowed to generate publishable news stories, opinion columns, or editorial content without meaningful human oversight. This includes the creation of images, audio, and video. If AI-generated media is ever used for illustrative purposes, it must be clearly labeled and never passed off as genuine footage or photographs.
We align ourselves with standards already in place at respected organizations such as the Associated Press (AP) and the Texas Press Association (TPA), which have prohibited AI-generated content from being published without human review. The use of AI to alter or manipulate images or sound bites—especially in ways that could mislead or misrepresent—is unethical and unacceptable in any newsroom, especially one embedded in the heart of a community.
As journalists, we are storytellers, not content distributors. The very essence of what we do—capturing local moments, questioning local power, uplifting local voices—requires an emotional intelligence and ethical compass that no algorithm possesses.
Human Oversight and Judgment
Technology can assist, but it cannot replace human judgment. Every piece of AI-assisted content must be reviewed, fact-checked, and evaluated by a human editor before it sees print or digital publication. We must ensure that what’s published reflects our standards of accuracy, fairness, and community relevance.
Bias is another area where AI cannot be blindly trusted. These systems learn from the data they’re trained on—and that data often carries embedded biases. Human journalists must step in to correct or contextualize what AI tools miss or mishandle. This is particularly crucial when covering sensitive issues such as race, poverty, law enforcement, or political representation. We must not allow AI to automate inequality.
Editorial oversight also means considering the broader implications of what we publish: Does it serve the public good? Are we protecting the privacy and dignity of the individuals involved? These are not decisions AI can make. These are questions that fall squarely within the moral and professional responsibility of a human editor.
The Road Ahead
At The Silsbee Bee and Robertson County News, we see AI as a tool—not a threat. When used responsibly, it can help small newsrooms do more with less. But it must never become a shortcut that undermines credibility or replaces human storytelling. We must walk a line that balances innovation with ethics, speed with accuracy, and convenience with accountability.
As we continue to explore the use of AI in our newsrooms, we pledge transparency with our readers, adherence to editorial standards, and a commitment to maintaining the human touch that defines community journalism. The work we do matters because we are part of the communities we serve. And no machine—no matter how intelligent—can replace that connection.
How Will You Know?
Moving forward, when AI is used for any part or in whole of any story, this will be indicated in the byline of the story. For example:
Staff Reports
The Silsbee Bee
AI Assisted
As a policy, AI assistance is prohibited in news and editorial content at both newspapers, with limited exceptions. The only approved uses of AI are for:
– Community event announcements
– Data collection and arrangement
– Content sorting or summarizing of public datasets
These exceptions will always remain subject to human oversight, final editorial approval, and public disclosure when appropriate.
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