How does Northern Focus use AI and automation?
Northern Focus uses AI-assisted tools to support research, editing, formatting, translation, metadata, headline options, summaries and transcription — never to write or approve articles. These tools help our small team work more efficiently while maintaining full editorial control.
AI may assist a journalist in gathering background data, generating preliminary headline variations, or transcribing an interview recording. Our fact-checking lead, Andrew Leblanc, may use pattern-recognition software to cross-reference claims against public databases. All of these applications are secondary to human judgment: a tool may suggest, but a person decides. We disclose this support because readers deserve to know how their news is produced.
What is the human guarantee behind every article?
Every article published on Northern Focus is written by a named journalist, reviewed by an assigning editor, and fact-checked before it goes live. No AI tool originates content, conducts interviews, selects sources, or approves a final version.
Our editorial policy requires that every piece carries a byline. The named writer is responsible for reporting, sourcing and drafting. A human editor — Marc Tremblay for daily news, Hannah Walsh for municipal coverage, or Jessica Morin for provincial affairs — reviews each story for accuracy, clarity and fairness. Andrew Leblanc’s standards team verifies claims, quotes and data before publication. AI tools touch the process only at the support level, and a human editor always has the final say on what runs.
If a story uses AI for transcription or translation, that is noted internally during the editing process. Readers who want to know more about how we verify information can read our fact-checking policy.
What are the strict prohibitions on AI use?
AI must never fabricate quotes, sources, interviews, bylines, author experience or expert profiles. These are non-negotiable rules enforced by the standards desk and the editor-in-chief.
Northern Beacon Media Inc., which owns and operates Northern Focus, prohibits any AI tool from generating content that pretends to be a human source. No AI may be listed as a co-author, credited as a reporter, or used to simulate a subject’s voice or testimony. If a tool produces a plausible-sounding quote that cannot be independently verified, that quote is discarded. Our editorial team understands that credibility is our only asset, and we protect it with policy and practice.
These prohibitions extend to all editorial content including news, analysis, sponsored material and community announcements. Any commercial partner who produces sponsored content on our site must also follow these rules, as outlined in our advertising and affiliate disclosure.
What you can expect from us
Readers of Northern Focus can expect transparent disclosure of how we work, clear labelling of any AI-supported processes, and a direct line to our editorial team with questions. We do not use hidden automation or publish machine-written articles under a human byline.
If an article uses AI-generated summaries or translated versions, that will be noted in the article metadata or a brief editor’s note. We will never run content that has not been read, edited and approved by a person named on our team. Editor-in-Chief Catherine Roy is ultimately responsible for every editorial decision, including those involving technology. You can reach her at catherine.roy@northernfocus.org or by phone at +1 416 555 0220.
Our ownership and funding page explains how commercial relationships are separate from editorial ones. No advertiser or sponsor influences how we use AI or any other tool.
Questions or concerns?
If you have questions about our use of AI or any editorial process, contact the editorial desk at editorial@northernfocus.org. You can also reach Standards & Fact-Checking Lead Andrew Leblanc directly at andrew.leblanc@northernfocus.org or +1 416 555 0225. For general inquiries, use info@northernfocus.org. Our full contact page lists every department.