How we use AI

Our reporting is written by AI from public sources we monitor — government agendas, dispatch logs, weather and road feeds, event calendars, and local newsrooms. When an editor assigns a subject, the AI may also search the open web for sources beyond that set; those are cited the same way. The AI's job is to gather what happened in the valley and write it up plainly, with every factual claim linked to where it came from.

Two things on this site are not reporting, and are labeled where they appear: letters from residents, and opinion pieces signed by a named editor.

In a reported story, every factual claim traces back to a document, feed, or page — one we monitor, or one found while researching a subject an editor assigned. The AI does not speculate, fabricate quotes, or fill gaps with guesses. If a claim can't be sourced, the story doesn't run.

Letters are written by residents, not by AI. We read every one before it publishes and we edit for length and clarity, but we do not fact-check a letter to the standard we hold a reported story to — a letter is someone's own account, and it is labeled as such on the page. The full rules, including what gets turned down and how long we keep what a writer sends us, are at /letters/policy.

Opinion pieces are different again. They are drafted by AI from a named editor's stated position and research, cited where they assert fact, and signed by the person accountable for them. Neither letters nor opinion appear in the news feed.

• An AI editor reviews every story before it publishes, checking that each claim is supported by its cited source.
• Some stories are additionally reviewed by a named person. When that happens, the story says so and names the reviewer.

Claims link their source, so you can open the original document and check it yourself. The point of writing this way is that you never have to take our word for it.

AI can still make mistakes — misreading a date, a body, or a figure. That's why every claim is sourced and why we correct openly. This site is general local information, not legal, financial, medical, or safety advice; in an emergency, call 911 and follow official guidance.

When we get something wrong, we fix it promptly and publish the correction at /corrections. If you spot something that needs correcting, email hello@bigbear.news.