AI bots for journalism & communications: techniques, prompts and official rules
Use AI bots to transcribe, summarize documents and draft routine copy, while verification, sourcing and editorial judgment stay human and transparent. Written for reporters, editors and PR/comms teams.
The lessons
Bot techniques
5 practical ways reporters, editors and PR/comms teams can use AI bots today, with what to check.
Key concepts
The rules, risks and ideas you need before you use a bot at work.
Starter prompts
3 copy-ready prompts with built-in guardrails.
Workflows
Step-by-step workflows where the bot drafts and a person approves.
Accuracy and ethics
Confidentiality, verification and responsibility, made specific.
Starter resources
Official, link-checked sources to learn the rules from the source.
Try one now
Records summary:
Summarize this public record. List key facts with page numbers, names of officials mentioned and numbers exactly as written. Flag anything ambiguous.
[DOCUMENT]More in starter prompts. New to bots? Start with the general guides on catching made-up answers.
Questions
Can AI write news stories?
It can draft routine items from verified data, but humans must verify and take responsibility.
Accuracy and ethics, every time
- Confidentiality: never paste client, patient, student, employee or customer personal data (PII/PHI) into a public bot. Use tools your organization has approved, with contract terms that cover data use, or remove identifiers first.
- Verify everything: bots can invent citations, case law, statistics, doses, code sections and quotes that look real. Check each one against the original source before you rely on it.
- Not professional advice: these tutorials teach you how to use AI tools. They are not legal, medical, tax, financial or engineering advice.
- A human professional is responsible: the licensed or accountable person reviews, decides and signs. The bot drafts; you own the result.
- Prices change: we don't list product prices. Check each vendor's official pricing page.
Official sources for this section
- SPJ Code of Ethics: journalism ethics
- Poynter: AI ethics guidelines: newsroom AI policy starter
- PRSA Code of Ethics: PR ethics
- AP Stylebook: style
Links checked Oct 30, 2026. Rules differ by state and country; follow your licensing body and employer policy.
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