Effective September 21, 2026.
The American Quorum uses artificial intelligence as an editorial production tool. AI can help identify developments, organize research, compare source material, draft text, summarize records, translate content, and prepare supporting media. It does not replace accountable human editorial direction or lower our standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, corrections, or transparency.
How the publishing system works
Routine coverage is produced through ChatGPT Automations operating under the editorial direction of Kenneth R. Deans Jr., Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Articles move through a controlled publisher that enforces approved server-side rules for publication, including category, author, tag, delivery, and duplicate-content safeguards. The workflow is reviewed and governed under TAQ's Editorial Standards.
Automation can apply established rules consistently, but it cannot accept responsibility. TAQ's Editor-in-Chief sets the rules, approves the workflows, reviews exceptions and performance, and remains accountable for what the publication releases.
Source and verification requirements
AI-assisted reporting is subject to the same verification threshold as other TAQ journalism. Factual news reports should use at least two independent, credible sources, with primary records preferred whenever available. A story based on a single authoritative primary source must attribute that limitation clearly and must not imply independent confirmation that did not occur.
AI output is not itself a source. It may not be cited as evidence for a factual claim. Links, quotations, names, titles, dates, statistics, legal claims, research findings, and other material facts must be checked against accessible source material. The system is instructed not to invent sources, quotations, documents, events, credentials, or consensus.
Human review
TAQ uses human editorial oversight at the policy, workflow, and publication level. The depth and timing of review may vary with the risk and format of the item, but higher-risk claims require greater scrutiny. Coverage involving public safety, elections, courts, health, finance, national security, allegations of wrongdoing, or other consequential subjects receives particular attention.
If a material error reaches publication, TAQ will correct it under the Corrections Policy. AI assistance is never a reason to leave an error uncorrected.
Bylines
News Desk is TAQ's institutional newsroom byline. It identifies routine reporting produced through the documented editorial workflow; it is not a fictional individual. Work for which a named author assumes responsibility may carry that person's byline. A named byline on AI-assisted work identifies editorial authorship and accountability, not a claim that no digital tools were used.
TAQ's current editorial leadership and the role of the News Desk are described on the Masthead.
Images, audio, translation, and other media
AI-assisted images may be used as restrained editorial illustrations when a suitable licensed or official image is unavailable. They must not fabricate documentary evidence, impersonate a real source, or depict an invented factual event as though it were photographed. Captions and alt text should describe the image accurately. Synthetic audio and translations must preserve the meaning of the underlying article and may not add unsupported claims.
Prohibited uses
TAQ does not permit AI tools to:
- invent or obscure sources, quotations, credentials, or material evidence;
- publish private or sensitive information without a legitimate editorial basis;
- create deceptive documentary images or audio;
- present sponsored material as independent news;
- evade copyright, attribution, corrections, or conflict-of-interest obligations; or
- make final ethical judgments without accountable human oversight.
Disclosure and policy changes
This page is TAQ's standing disclosure of its AI-assisted production model. Additional article-level disclosure will be provided when the particular use of AI is material to understanding the work or its evidentiary value. We will update this policy as tools, law, and newsroom practices change.
Questions about this policy may be sent to TAQ@TheAmericanQuorum.com.