Media Grid UK (mediagriduk.uk) is an independent UK digital news publisher owned and operated by Sliema Media Limited, registered in Malta (company number C 84217). The Editor-in-Chief, Jonathan Pierce, holds ultimate responsibility for all editorial content, including any produced with the assistance of automated or AI tools. Our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Oliver Reeves, oversees the integrity of these processes. Full ownership and funding details are published in our ownership and funding disclosure.
Who is responsible for AI and automation at Media Grid UK?
Jonathan Pierce, Editor-in-Chief, is accountable for all editorial decisions involving AI-assisted tools, supported by Oliver Reeves as Standards & Fact-Checking Lead. Every piece of content that uses such tools is reviewed and approved by a named human editor before publication. This ensures that human judgment remains final and that no automated system overrides editorial standards. The team structure is detailed on our team page.
How do AI tools support our journalism?
AI and automation may be used to assist with research, initial drafting, editing, formatting, metadata generation, translation, headline options, summaries and transcription. These tools never replace the core journalistic work of reporting, interviewing, verification or analysis performed by staff writers and editors. All published editorial content is reviewed by a human editor who confirms accuracy, tone and compliance with our editorial policy. No AI system makes publication decisions.
What are the strict prohibitions on AI use?
AI must never fabricate quotes, sources, interviews, bylines, author experience or expert profiles. It cannot generate content that pretends to be original reporting when it is not based on verified facts. Automated tools are prohibited from making factual claims without human corroboration. Any use of AI that produces false or misleading information is treated as a serious editorial error and triggers our corrections procedure and, if necessary, a public correction. Named writers and editors remain legally and ethically responsible for every article.
How do we disclose AI assistance to readers?
Media Grid UK is transparent about the role of technology in our newsroom. This policy is published at /ai-automation-policy/. Where AI tools have materially contributed to the structure or summarisation of an article, we may include a brief note at the foot of the piece. Sponsored or commercial content, which may also use automated formatting tools, is always clearly labelled. Readers who have questions about a specific article’s production process are welcome to contact our editorial team at our contact page.
How do we ensure AI does not compromise fact‑checking?
Our fact-checking policy applies equally to all content, whether human‑produced or AI‑assisted. Oliver Reeves leads a dedicated fact‑checking process that includes source verification, corroboration and review of any data or quotes produced with automated help. AI‑generated drafts are treated as unverified starting material; every claim is checked against primary sources before publication. No automated fact‑checking system is trusted without human oversight.
Our commitments
- Every editorial item assisted by AI is approved by a named human editor before publication.
- AI tools will never fabricate quotes, sources, bylines or expert profiles.
- All fact‑checking and source verification is performed by human staff, not automated systems.
- Readers will be informed of significant AI assistance through discreet article notes or this policy page.
- Any error introduced by AI will be corrected promptly and transparently in line with our corrections procedure.