Who is responsible for this policy and what is our legal framework?
This AI & Automation Policy is set by Windmill Hill Media Ltd., the Gibraltar-registered company (number 130642) that operates MorningTimes.uk. Our Editor-in-Chief, Edward Sterling, has final oversight for all editorial technology and standards. The company is registered at Suite 12, Neptune House, Marina Bay, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, and our UK editorial line is +44 20 4587 9470.
This policy governs the use of digital tools and automated systems across all content published on MorningTimes.uk, including news, analysis, explainers, opinion pieces, and practical guides. It applies to every member of our editorial team: Catherine Lowe, Managing Editor; Marcus Bell, Politics & Public Affairs Editor; Priya Sharma, Business & Economy Editor; James Holloway, Culture & Society Editor; and Helen Carver, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead. The policy is part of our broader commitment to transparency, which is detailed in our Editorial Policy and Fact-Checking Policy.
How may digital tools support our editorial work?
Digital tools and automation may assist with research, editing, formatting, translation, metadata, headline options, summaries, and transcription support. These tools are used to improve efficiency and accuracy, never to replace human judgement or primary reporting.
For example, an AI tool might generate a set of potential headline variations for a story about Westminster politics, from which Marcus Bell selects and refines the final version. Another tool might produce a first draft of a summary for a business article, which Priya Sharma checks, edits, and enriches with her own analysis. We may also use automated transcription for interviews, translation for non-English source material, and formatting assistance to ensure consistent metadata and tagging across our site. All such uses are strictly supervised and limited to defined support roles.
What is the human guarantee for every piece of content?
Every piece of editorial content published on MorningTimes.uk is reviewed by a human editor before it goes live. No article, analysis, explainer, or opinion piece is published solely on the basis of an automated output.
This human guarantee applies to all stages of production. Catherine Lowe, our Managing Editor, oversees the daily publication schedule and ensures that each piece is commissioned, written or contributed, and then reviewed. Helen Carver, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, oversees the final verification step. For pieces involving sensitive subjects or data-heavy reporting, a second editor reviews the work. This process ensures that readers receive content that has been judged by experienced professionals for accuracy, fairness, and relevance. Our Our Team page lists every editorial staff member responsible for these reviews.
What is strictly prohibited with artificial intelligence?
Digital tools must never fabricate quotes, sources, interviews, bylines, author experience, expert profiles, false staff credentials, or any other factual material. Any use of AI in editorial production is subject to this absolute prohibition.
This principle is non-negotiable. If an AI tool generates a plausible-sounding quote from a public figure, that quote must be independently verified against a primary source—typically an audio or video recording, a published transcript, or direct correspondence—before it can be used. Similarly, AI must never be credited as a co-author, nor may it be used to generate fake expert biographies or to impersonate a named editor. Any breach of this policy discovered after publication will trigger an immediate correction and, where necessary, a formal retraction handled by Edward Sterling and Helen Carver under our Corrections Policy. All AI-generated content that is incorporated into a final piece is flagged in our internal editorial system for audit purposes.
How do we disclose the use of digital tools to readers?
We disclose the use of AI and automation in a transparent and specific manner. A typical disclosure might read: “This article used digital tools to assist with transcription of an interview and to generate initial headline options. All content was reviewed and edited by a human editor.”
Such disclosures appear in the article footer or at the end of the piece where relevant. For sponsored content or commercial partnerships, we include additional disclosure language that clarifies the extent of any tool use, and we label all sponsored material clearly. These practices are aligned with our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure and Sponsored Content Policy. We believe this transparency helps maintain the trust our readers place in MorningTimes.uk.
What mechanisms exist for readers to raise concerns about automated content?
Readers who believe that content has been published in violation of this policy, or who have questions about a specific use of automation, can contact Edward Sterling directly at edward.sterling@morningtimes.uk or our editorial team via corrections@morningtimes.uk. Our Contact page provides full details.
We take all such concerns seriously. Helen Carver, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, will review any complaint related to AI or automation use. If an error or breach is confirmed, we will correct the record promptly, publish a transparent explanation, and update this policy if necessary to reflect any lessons learned. We also invite questions through our general contact address, info@morningtimes.uk, and we respond to every query within five working days.
Our commitments
- We guarantee that every piece of editorial content on MorningTimes.uk is reviewed by a named human editor before publication.
- We strictly prohibit the fabrication of quotes, sources, interviews, bylines, author experience, or any expert profiles by digital tools.
- We disclose all uses of AI and automation in a clear, specific manner within the article or adjacent metadata.
- We maintain an independent audit trail of all digital tool use in editorial production, accessible to our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead.
- We respond to reader concerns about AI use within five working days and issue formal corrections for any breach of this policy.