This page explains how Headlines UK uses artificial intelligence and automation tools to support our journalism while making sure every piece of content you read meets the same editorial standards you expect. We want you to understand what role technology plays and, more importantly, what role it does not play – because human judgement is always the final word.
Does Headlines UK use artificial intelligence in its journalism?
Yes, Headlines UK may use AI-assisted tools to support research, drafting, editing, formatting, translation, headline options, summaries and transcription, but never to replace human editorial judgement. Every article is written by a named journalist, reviewed by an editor and fact-checked before publication. AI tools are considered assistants, not authors.
We treat AI with the same caution we apply to any other source or tool. A writer might use a language model to generate a first draft of a routine data-driven story, for example, but that draft is then rewritten, verified and approved by a human editor who takes full responsibility for the content. The same rule applies to research: AI may help gather background information, but all facts are traced back to original sources by our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Oliver Reeves, or a member of his team.
What safeguards are in place to ensure accuracy and fairness?
Our safeguards are built on three layers: writer accountability, editorial review and independent fact-checking. No content reaches publication unless a human editor – either Managing Editor Rebecca Haines or Editor-in-Chief David Harwood – has personally approved it. AI must never fabricate quotes, sources, interviews, bylines, author experience or expert profiles.
We have a dedicated Fact-Checking Policy and Editorial Policy that apply equally to AI-assisted work. Any piece that relies on an automated tool for data analysis or transcription carries a clear editorial note if the tool’s output significantly influenced the reporting. Our team regularly audits AI outputs for bias, hallucination or factual errors. Readers who spot a mistake can contact our corrections team directly.
How this works in practice
Consider a recent article on local council budget changes. The reporter used a spreadsheet tool to analyse spending data and an AI transcription service to convert a public meeting recording into text. The draft summary was then written by the reporter, checked against the original audio and data by Oliver Reeves, and reviewed by Politics & Public Affairs Editor Thomas Whitmore before publication. The AI transcribed the words; the humans verified every one.
That concrete example shows the dividing line: automation handles repetitive or large-scale tasks, but all analysis, interpretation and editorial decision-making stays with our named journalists and editors. The same approach applies to headline testing, metadata and translation. If a tool suggests a headline, the editor decides whether it is accurate, fair and appropriate for our audience.
Who is responsible for AI-related editorial decisions?
Editor-in-Chief David Harwood has ultimate responsibility for editorial standards, including how AI tools are used across the newsroom. Oliver Reeves, as Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, monitors compliance with our internal AI guidelines and investigates any concerns. Both report to Sliema Media Limited, the Malta-registered company that owns Headlines UK.
We believe transparency builds trust. If you have questions about how a particular article was produced, or about our approach to automation more generally, you can email our editorial team at editorial@headlinesuk.uk or use the contact form. Our team page lists every editor and correspondent, along with their direct contact details.
Is the publication owned by a company that uses AI in other ways?
Headlines UK is owned and operated by Sliema Media Limited, a Malta-registered company (C 84217). The company may use AI tools in its broader business operations, such as customer support automation or advertising analytics, but these activities have no influence on editorial content. Our ownership and funding page explains how the company is financed and how commercial relationships are kept separate from editorial decisions.
Commercial material – including sponsored content and affiliate links – is always clearly labelled, and AI never determines editorial conclusions. The same human safeguards that apply to news articles extend to all content on the site, regardless of the tools used to produce it.
In short
Headlines UK uses AI as a productivity tool, not a substitute for human journalism. Every story you read has been written, reviewed and fact-checked by named people who stand behind their work. Technology helps us work faster and smarter, but it is always our team – not the machine – who decides what is true, fair and worth publishing.