AI Guidelines

Ethics Overview

As Nepal’s first digital news portal, Nepal News recognizes the transformative potential of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism. AI is a tool to enhance efficiency, support creative processes, and improve journalistic excellence. However, it does not replace human judgment, editorial oversight, or journalistic integrity.

Nepal News remains committed to delivering accurate, reliable, and responsibly sourced content. All AI-assisted content must originate from human drafts, with journalists first writing and verifying the news before AI is used for structural refinement. AI-generated content must undergo rigorous editorial scrutiny before publication. As the first media house in Nepal to actively implement policies for AI integration, Nepal News views AI as an opportunity to strengthen—rather than substitute—human intelligence and creativity.

AI tools are applied pragmatically, ensuring their use aligns with ethical journalism practices. AI-generated content is selectively utilized and must always be clearly labeled to maintain transparency. Nepal News’ guiding principles for AI use are truth, honesty, accountability, and transparency.

Guiding Principles for AI Use

Human Oversight & Editorial Control

• AI-generated content must be reviewed and refined by journalists before publication.
• AI tools should assist in enhancing quality, efficiency, and structural coherence, not replace human creativity.
• The first draft of any news content must be written by humans, ensuring verification of sources before AI is used for structural improvements.

Transparency & Disclosure

• AI-generated or AI-assisted content must be clearly disclosed to readers when applicable.
• However, Nepal News may not disclose all AI-generated content if the initial draft was written by humans, data has been fact-checked, and AI was used only for structural improvements and language refinement.
• AI should be treated like an “off-the-record” source—useful for idea generation but requiring rigorous verification.

Accuracy & Verification

• AI-generated content must be fact-checked before publication.
• Journalists must ensure AI-assisted content meets Nepal News’ editorial standards for accuracy and credibility.
• AI should only be used to refine structured content, never to fabricate or alter factual reporting.

Editorial Judgment & Ethical Considerations

• Human editorial judgment must guide AI use, ensuring content aligns with ethical and journalistic values.
  
• AI must not be used to create deceptive, misleading, or sensationalized content.

Fair Use & Intellectual Property

• AI-generated content must respect intellectual property rights and fair use policies.
• Journalists must ensure proper attribution and avoid plagiarism.

AI-Generated Visual Content

• AI-generated images (e.g., from tools like DALL-E) should be used for representation only and clearly labeled.
• AI visuals must not be misrepresented as real events or genuine news photographs.
• Editorial approval is required before using AI-generated visuals in news coverage.

Privacy & Data Protection

• AI use must comply with data protection laws and safeguard individual privacy rights.
• No personally identifiable information should be processed using AI without explicit consent.
  
• AI tools must not be used to track, profile, or analyze individuals beyond ethical journalistic practices.

Bias & Discrimination

• Journalists must assess AI-generated content for biases and discriminatory narratives.
  
• AI tools must not be used to produce or amplify content that is prejudiced against any race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or other identity markers.

Safety & Security

• AI-generated content must not contribute to misinformation, disinformation, or harm to public safety.
  
• Journalists must exercise caution in using AI tools to prevent unintended ethical violations.

Accountability & Corrections

• Nepal News takes full editorial responsibility for AI-assisted content.
  
• Any errors or inaccuracies must be promptly corrected, with clear disclosure to the audience.

Training & Development

• Nepal News journalists will receive ongoing training on AI tools and ethical considerations.
  
• Staff will stay informed on AI’s evolving impact on journalism and its ethical implications.

Editorial Staff & Oversight

Nepal News’ editorial team is responsible for enforcing AI guidelines. Editors oversee AI-assisted content to ensure it meets journalistic standards, maintains accuracy, and upholds ethical principles. The editorial team continuously refines AI usage policies and trains journalists in responsible AI practices, ensuring that AI enhances—not replaces—quality journalism.

AI Privacy & Ethical Safeguards

Nepal News prioritizes privacy and ethical safeguards in AI implementation:
– AI tools must not process, store, or distribute sensitive personal data without explicit consent.
– AI-generated content should never misrepresent or manipulate facts in a way that compromises journalistic integrity.
– Ethical guidelines ensure AI remains a support mechanism, never a substitute for investigative journalism.
– AI systems are inherently data-hungry and opaque, reducing individual control over data. Nepal News does not collect, use, share, or store personal or sensitive information through AI or blockchain-based data systems.

Implementation & Review

These guidelines are subject to periodic review as AI technology evolves. Nepal News remains committed to assessing and refining AI policies to align with emerging best practices and ethical standards in journalism.

Updated on August 22, 2025