AI-use Disclosure

Effective Date: [Insert date]
Last Updated: [Insert date]

Loudoun Forward uses technology, including artificial intelligence tools, to support our editorial, research, production, business, and publishing workflows.

This AI-use Disclosure explains how we may use AI, how humans remain involved, and what readers should understand about AI-assisted content.

1. Our Core Position

AI may assist our work, but it does not replace editorial judgment.

Loudoun Forward is responsible for what we publish. We aim to use AI tools to improve speed, organization, formatting, research workflows, and production quality while preserving human accountability.

2. How We May Use AI

We may use AI tools to assist with:

• Research organization
• Topic brainstorming
• Headline options
• Draft outlines
• Article structure
• Summaries of public documents
• Transcript cleanup
• Podcast show notes
• Interview preparation
• Newsletter formatting
• Social media captions
• SEO descriptions
• Data extraction from public sources
• Categorizing stories by topic, sector, location, or urgency
• Creating first drafts for human review
• Editing for clarity, grammar, or readability
• Image workflow support
• Accessibility text drafts, including image alt-text suggestions
• Internal business operations
• Coding, site design, and CMS setup

3. Human Review

AI-assisted material intended for publication should be reviewed by a human editor, producer, or responsible team member before publication where appropriate.

Human review may include checking:

• Accuracy
• Source reliability
• Context
• Tone
• Relevance to Loudoun businesses
• Public-interest value
• Attribution
• Conflicts or sponsorship issues
• Whether the content could mislead readers
• Whether additional reporting is needed

4. What We Do Not Intend AI to Do

We do not intend to use AI to knowingly:

• Fabricate sources
• Invent quotes
• Invent interviews
• Misrepresent public records
• Create fake testimonials
• Publish fake reader reviews
• Impersonate a real person without disclosure
• Create deceptive endorsements
• Hide paid sponsorships
• Replace required professional review where professional review is necessary
• Publish accusations without appropriate editorial review
• Present unverified AI output as verified reporting

5. Sources and Verification

AI tools can make mistakes. They may produce outdated, incomplete, biased, or inaccurate information.

For factual reporting, business intelligence, public opportunities, deadlines, policy matters, procurement information, market data, and legal or regulatory developments, we aim to rely on verifiable sources such as:

• Public records
• Government websites
• Official notices
• Agency documents
• Interviews
• Direct statements
• Source documents
• Business filings
• Meeting materials
• Credible data sources
• Clearly attributed third-party reporting

When a story depends on a grant deadline, contract notice, public hearing, regulation, or official requirement, readers should consult the linked official source before taking action.

6. AI-assisted Drafting vs. AI-generated Publication

Some content may be AI-assisted without being fully AI-generated.

For example, an article may be based on human reporting, public documents, interviews, or original analysis, while AI helps organize notes, summarize a transcript, suggest headlines, or format the final draft.

When AI plays a substantial role in generating or transforming published content, we may disclose that role on the article, report, page, or content type where appropriate.

7. Transcripts, Summaries, and Quotes

We may use AI tools to transcribe, summarize, or organize interviews, meetings, podcasts, public hearings, or videos.

Transcripts and summaries may contain errors. Before publishing direct quotes, we aim to review the source audio, video, transcript, notes, or other supporting material when practical.

We may lightly edit quotes for clarity, length, grammar, or readability while preserving meaning.

8. Images, Graphics, and Visuals

We may use AI tools to help create or edit graphics, illustrations, thumbnails, diagrams, image concepts, or visual drafts.

When an image is materially AI-generated or AI-altered in a way that could affect reader understanding, we may label it as AI-generated, AI-assisted, illustration, photo illustration, or similar.

We do not intend to present AI-generated images as documentary photographs of real events.

9. Sponsored and Commercial AI Content

If AI tools are used in sponsored content, partner content, advertising, or branded material, the content must still comply with our sponsorship disclosure standards.

AI assistance does not remove the need for clear sponsorship labeling.

Advertisers, sponsors, and partners are responsible for the accuracy of claims they provide, including claims about AI products, AI services, automation, business results, savings, revenue, productivity, or performance.

10. AI and Business Recommendations

Loudoun Forward may publish content about AI tools, business automation, local service providers, technology trends, or productivity systems.

Any discussion of tools, vendors, or business strategies is informational. Results vary based on the business, implementation, budget, data quality, staff capacity, market conditions, and other factors.

We do not guarantee that any AI tool, workflow, vendor, or strategy will produce a particular business result.

11. Reader Submissions and AI

If you submit content to Loudoun Forward, you are responsible for ensuring you have the right to submit it.

If your submission was materially created by AI, we encourage you to disclose that fact, especially if the submission includes factual claims, quotes, images, testimonials, reviews, or business representations.

We may reject or remove submissions that appear deceptive, unverifiable, infringing, or misleading.

12. Corrections and Concerns

If you believe AI-assisted content on Loudoun Forward contains an error, lacks appropriate disclosure, misstates a source, or could mislead readers, contact us.

Corrections: [insert corrections email]
AI-use questions: [insert AI disclosure email]

Please include the URL, the specific issue, and any supporting source material.

13. Updates to This Disclosure

AI tools and publishing practices are changing quickly. We may update this AI-use Disclosure as our workflows, technology, editorial standards, or legal requirements evolve.