Raw Story Code of Standards for Artificial Intelligence

Raw Story is committed to accurate, independent and original journalism. Reporters aim to be precise with all headlines and statements. This includes identifying information such as names and positions as well as factual statements and quotations. Raw Story reporting is guided by our Ethics Policy and Fact Checking Policy.

Raw Story is also committed to human-written journalism, and use of AI is generally contrary to our values. In recent months, however, we have begun to face increasing competition from publishers who appear to be using AI to get stories to print faster than us, which harms our ability to compete and threatens our business. To remain innovative and meet the demands of a rapidly evolving media environment, we have no choice but to experiment with use of AI in certain, carefully controlled circumstances. This document governs that experimentation. This policy will be revisited in six months, or sooner if circumstances warrant.

The following outlines Raw Story’s policies for use of AI.

Human Oversight

Use of AI tools will involve Raw Story journalists and editors at every step of the way. Any content produced with the assistance of AI is vetted by human journalists or editors for accuracy, fairness and completeness. Generative AI can help with the process of reporting but must be managed and accountable to journalists. Regardless of whether portions of a story were written with the use of AI, the journalist whose name appears on the story must own those words the same as if they were originally drafted by that journalist. Headlines, opening paragraphs, and key paragraphs that are central to the Raw Story voice must be written by humans without the use of AI. AI will typically be used only to generate background paragraphs or summaries of information that has previously been made public elsewhere.

Disclosure

Raw Story discloses its use of AI as part of this policy. Articles that involve substantial use of AI will include a disclosure stating that AI was involved in the creation of the content along with a human editor.

Fact-Checking

Any use of AI in the creating of Raw Story content will be rigorously fact-checked before publication. AI use will also follow Raw Story’s Fact Checking Policy.

Prohibited Uses

Raw Story prohibits the use of AI to:

• Generate entire news articles for publication without human authorship and oversight
• Generate made-up attributions or non-existent sources
• Generate images or video purporting to depict real events or people without clear labeling
• Mimic the voice or style of real individuals without their consent

Training

Raw Story journalists and editors will be trained on this policy if they are asked to use AI in their work.

Data Set

Raw Story has trained an AI model using its own content. When possible, Raw Story will use its own self-trained AI. This model is built on Anthropic/Claude.

Feedback and Concerns

Raw Story welcomes feedback from readers about its use of AI. Any concerns about the accuracy, ethics, or impact of AI-assisted content can be reported to editor@rawstory.com.