AI Use Policy

At Heartland Newsfeed we value accuracy, transparency, and trust. We are making a commitment to innovation and the use of emerging technologies that can enhance our reporting and how we serve our readers.

From time to time, our newsroom may use generative AI tools to support (such as Perplexity)—but never replace—the work of our journalists. AI is not a journalist, and it does not decide what stories we cover or how we report them. Instead, we may use AI in the following ways:

• Content preparation: AI may assist with tasks like SEO, keyword research, and drafting briefs. All editorial content will always under review by an editor before publication.
• Editing support: AI may provide an initial review for grammar, spelling, or style consistency. A final review by an editor happens before anything reaches the publication phase.
• Platform adaptation: AI may help generate alternate versions of content—such as summaries, newsletters, or social posts—tailored for different platforms. These, too, will be under review by an editor before going live.
• Research assistance: AI tools may help collect background information, organize data, or surface materials from our archives. However, all reporting will continue to go through a fact-checking process by reporters and editors.
• Specialty content: Occasionally, we may publish AI-generated information in areas like shopping recommendations, sports data, or automated listings. When we do, these will be clear labels as AI-generated on the page and all facts will be checked for accuracy by our editorial team before publishing.

Our promise

Every story published by our newsroom goes through human judgment, fact-checking, and editorial oversight. Generative AI is a tool to make us more efficient, but the responsibility and accountability for the accuracy of our journalism always rest with our editorial team. If you have any questions about our use of AI or any of our reporting, please reach out through our Contact Us page.

Adopted May 18, 2026