When you read an article on Toronto Post, you can trust that a human journalist and editor have shaped every word. This page explains how we use artificial intelligence and automation tools to support our work — and the clear boundaries that keep human editorial judgment in charge. For our full approach to editorial independence and fact-checking, see our Editorial Policy and Fact-Checking Policy.
What does this policy mean for you?
This policy means you can trust that every story you read on Toronto Post is reviewed and approved by a human editor. AI tools may assist our team with research or drafting, but they never make final decisions about what gets published or how it is presented.
You will always see a named writer and editor on each article, as well as a clear publication date. Our readers deserve transparency about how we work, and this page is part of that commitment. If you have questions about a specific piece, you can contact our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead Andrew Leblanc directly at andrew.leblanc@torontopost.org.
How do AI tools support our journalism?
AI-assisted tools help our reporters and editors with tasks such as transcription, summarization, headline options, metadata, and basic formatting. These tools save time on routine work, allowing our team to focus on reporting, analysis, and verification.
For example, when our Municipal Affairs Editor Hannah Walsh attends a long city council meeting, an AI transcription tool may convert the audio into a rough text draft. Hannah then reviews every quote against the original recording, corrects any errors, and ensures the context is accurate. The same principle applies to AI-generated headline suggestions: editors always have the final say. Our Fact-Checking Policy outlines the additional verification layers that follow.
What is strictly prohibited?
Toronto Post strictly prohibits AI from fabricating quotes, sources, interviews, bylines, author experience, or expert profiles. AI may never replace human editorial judgment or override our fact-checking standards.
No AI tool is allowed to generate content that is presented as original reporting without direct human oversight. We also forbid the use of AI to create misleading or deceptive imagery, audio, or video that could be mistaken for authentic material. Any use of AI must be disclosed to the editorial team and reviewed by our Editor-in-Chief Catherine Roy. Our Our Team page lists every named journalist responsible for upholding these rules.
How this works in practice
Consider a recent story on provincial transit funding written by our Provincial Affairs Editor Jessica Morin. To draft background paragraphs on the policy history, Jessica used an AI-assisted research tool to pull summaries from public government reports and earlier Toronto Post articles. She then rewrote every sentence in her own words, added original interviews with MPPs and transit advocates, and submitted the piece for review.
Managing Editor Marc Tremblay reviewed the headline and structure. Standards & Fact-Checking Lead Andrew Leblanc verified all sources against original documents and contacted the sources to confirm their quotes. The final article was published under Jessica’s byline with a clear human editor credit. No part of the AI-generated draft appeared in the final story unless it had been independently verified and rewritten by a journalist.
Who oversees our AI use?
Our Editor-in-Chief Catherine Roy is ultimately responsible for ensuring all AI use adheres to this policy. Andrew Leblanc, our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, oversees daily compliance and handles any concerns from readers or staff.
Toronto Post is owned and operated by Northern Beacon Media Inc., an Ontario corporation (Ontario Business Registry company number 1003194827). Our registered office is at Unit 12, 95 King Street East, Toronto, ON M5C 1G4. The company’s leadership reviews this policy annually and updates it as technology evolves. If you have a question or wish to report a potential violation, you can reach our editorial team at our Contact page or email complaints@torontopost.org.
In short
Toronto Post uses AI as a tool, not a replacement for human journalism. Every article you read has been written, reviewed, and fact-checked by our team of named editors and writers. You can trust our work because people — not algorithms — are accountable for it.