Code of Ethics

At East London Times (ELT), we are committed to responsible, transparent, and ethical journalism. As artificial intelligence (AI) tools become part of modern newsroom practices, we recognize both their potential benefits and their risks. This Code of Ethics explains how we use AI while upholding journalistic integrity, public trust, and human accountability.

Editorial Responsibility and Human Oversight

AI tools may assist in research, data analysis, transcription, translation, and drafting content. However:

  • We ensure that all published content is reviewed and approved by human editors.
  • We remain fully responsible for the accuracy, fairness, and quality of all material.
  • We do not allow AI to replace human judgment in editorial decision-making or matters of public interest.

Accuracy and Verification

We uphold the highest standards of factual accuracy.

  • We independently verify all AI-assisted or AI-generated information before publication.
  • We treat AI outputs as informational tools, not as authoritative sources.
  • We do not publish unverified, misleading, or speculative AI-generated content.

Transparency and Disclosure

We believe our audience has the right to know how content is produced.

  • We clearly disclose when AI tools are used in a significant way in creating news content.
  • We label automated or AI-assisted reporting where appropriate.
  • We do not present AI-generated material as purely human-authored work.

Fairness, Bias, and Inclusivity

We recognize that AI systems may reflect bias.

  • We actively monitor and correct biased, discriminatory, or harmful language in AI-assisted content.
  • We ensure fair and balanced representation of individuals and communities.
  • We reject content that promotes misinformation, hate speech, or social harm.

Privacy and Data Protection

We respect privacy and data protection laws.

  • We do not use AI to collect or process personal data without lawful and ethical justification.
  • We do not use AI to intrude into private lives or conduct surveillance-based reporting.
  • We protect sensitive and confidential information with the same standards applied to human reporting.

Source Integrity and Attribution

  • We do not treat AI tools as journalistic sources.
  • We ensure that all facts, quotes, and claims come from verifiable and credible sources.
  • We provide proper attribution to original journalists, news agencies, and contributors.

Prohibited Uses of AI

We strictly forbid the use of AI for:

  • Fabricating quotes, interviews, or events.
  • Creating deceptive images, audio, or video (deepfakes) intended to mislead the public.
  • Manipulating public opinion through automated propaganda or false narratives.
  • Plagiarism or unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted material.

Corrections and Accountability

When errors occur:

  • We correct them promptly and transparently.
  • We take full responsibility for all published content, whether created with or without AI assistance.
  • We remain accountable to our readers and the communities we serve.

Continuous Review and Improvement

As AI technology evolves, so will our policies.

  • We regularly review and update this Code of Ethics.
  • We provide training to staff on ethical and responsible AI use.
  • We adapt our practices to meet new legal, social, and professional standards.

Attribution, Credit, and Transparency of Sources

We uphold transparency by clearly attributing news to its original source.

  • When a story is first reported by another journalist or news agency, we clearly credit the journalist and/or the originating organization.
  • We do not present rewritten, summarized, or AI-assisted content as exclusive reporting when it is based on another source’s work.
  • Proper attribution is provided for:
    • Breaking news
    • Investigative reports
    • Interviews
    • Data and research findings
  • This principle applies equally to content assisted by AI tools; attribution remains a human editorial responsibility.
  • Attribution strengthens public trust and reflects our commitment to ethical journalism and intellectual honesty.

Our Commitment

We are committed to using technology in ways that strengthen journalism, not undermine it. AI is a tool to support truth, efficiency, and innovation—but never at the expense of trust, ethics, or human responsibility.

Our mission remains unchanged:
To inform the public with accuracy, fairness, and integrity.