Effective Date: April 4, 2026

Last Reviewed: July 3, 2026

At Indy Politics, we recognize that artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly common tool in journalism, legal analysis, and digital publishing. While AI can improve efficiency and support newsroom operations, it does not replace human judgment, independent reporting, legal verification, or editorial responsibility.

Our commitment remains unchanged: accuracy, transparency, source protection, accountability, and editorial independence.

I. Human Editorial Control

All content published by Indy Politics is subject to human review, editing, and final approval by the editor and publisher.

AI tools may be used to assist with:

  • transcription
  • summarization of public records
  • grammar and style review
  • headline and social media brainstorming
  • formatting and production assistance
  • image generation and graphic design concepts

AI tools shall not replace original reporting, source development, editorial analysis, legal reasoning, or final publication decisions.

These requirements apply equally to “agentic” AI tools — systems capable of taking actions such as retrieving records, drafting and sending communications, or publishing content — and not only to tools that generate text or images. No AI system may take any action or publish any material on behalf of Indy Politics without human direction and human review.

II. Verification and Accuracy

No fact, quote, legal citation, court filing reference, statistic, public statement, or attributed material generated or suggested by AI may be published without independent human verification.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • case citations
  • statutes and regulations
  • dates and filing deadlines
  • court rulings
  • election data
  • names and titles
  • public records

Primary documents, official dockets, court opinions, direct interviews, and public records remain the controlling authorities for all reporting.

III. Disclosure and Transparency

When AI tools materially assist in the drafting, production, or design of a story, Indy Politics will disclose that assistance.

AI assistance is “material” when AI-generated language appears in published content without substantial rewriting by the author, when AI-generated images or graphics are published, or when AI-assisted analysis of data or documents has not been independently verified through non-AI means. Routine uses — spelling and grammar checks, human-verified transcription, formatting, and brainstorming that does not survive into the published text — do not require disclosure.

Examples of uses that will be disclosed include:

  • AI-assisted drafting support appearing in final copy
  • AI-generated illustrations or graphics
  • AI-assisted summarization of public documents published without independent verification

Sample disclosure language:

“AI tools assisted in the drafting or production of this story. All editorial decisions were made by the author.”

IV. Source Protection, Confidentiality , and Privileged Materials

Protection of confidential sources and legally sensitive materials is paramount.

Indy Politics will not input confidential source identities, unpublished investigative notes, embargoed materials, attorney-client communications, legal work product, settlement communications, or draft pleadings into third-party AI systems unless the platform has been specifically vetted for confidentiality and such use is expressly authorized by the editor.

For purposes of this section, a platform is “vetted for confidentiality” only if it: (1) operates on an enterprise or closed-model basis; (2) provides contractual assurance that inputs will not be used to train generative models or be made available to other users; and (3) offers data-retention and deletion controls consistent with professional confidentiality obligations. Consumer-grade, free-tier, and open-model AI tools are not approved for any material covered by this section.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • confidential sources and whistleblower information
  • unpublished reporting notes
  • internal strategy memoranda
  • legal work product
  • draft complaints, motions, and discovery materials
  • settlement communications
  • personally identifying information not already part of the public record

Source protection supersedes convenience, speed, and efficiency .

V. Prohibited Uses

AI may not be used to generate or fabricate:

  • quotations
  • anonymous sources
  • interviews
  • legal citations
  • court rulings
  • attributed statements
  • investigative conclusions

No AI-generated content may be published as fact without independent verification.

VI. Authentication of Submitted and Third-Party Material

AI can be used to fabricate audio, video, images, documents, and screenshots. Material submitted to Indy Politics by sources, tipsters, campaigns, or other third parties — particularly during election cycles — is treated as unverified until authenticated.

Before publication, Indy Politics will make reasonable efforts to authenticate submitted material, which may include corroboration with the purported source or subject, examination of provenance and metadata where available, and comparison against primary records.

Content that is known or reasonably suspected to be AI-generated or manipulated will not be published as authentic. Where the existence of fabricated or manipulated material is itself newsworthy, it will be published only in that context and clearly labeled, with an explanation of what is known about its origin.

VII. Corrections and Accountability

If AI-assisted content contributes to an error, Indy Politics will correct the record promptly and transparently.

Where appropriate, correction notices will state whether AI assistance contributed to the error.

VIII. Policy Review

This policy shall be reviewed on a quarterly basis and updated as newsroom technology, legal standards, and journalistic best practices evolve.

Approved by:

Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Editor & Publisher, Indy Politics

Revised July 3, 2026 (first quarterly review)