Policies

AI Usage & Disclaimers

Last updated July 17, 2026

BLVD may use artificial intelligence as a tool to support responsible, creative, efficient, and high-quality journalism. AI may help with research preparation, transcription, organization, editing support, headline options, social copy, audience insight, and workflow improvement. However, AI must never replace the core work of journalism: human curiosity, reporting, interviewing, verification, judgment, empathy, context, accountability, and original storytelling. BLVD's editorial identity is built around premium, human-centered stories about the virtual professional community: the people building careers, businesses, culture, families, and futures through digital work. Our use of AI must strengthen that mission, not weaken trust in it.

1. Purpose

2. Core Principle

AI may assist BLVD's journalism, but BLVD's journalism must remain human-led, human-verified, and human-accountable. Every article, interview, caption, video script, photo essay, newsletter, and editorial product published by BLVD remains the responsibility of BLVD's editors, writers, producers, and contributors. AI is a tool. It is not a journalist. It is not an editor. It is not a source. It is not a substitute for lived experience, field reporting, expert insight, or editorial judgment.

3. Scope

These guidelines apply to everyone involved in BLVD's editorial, creative, commercial, and production work, including: • Editors • Writers • Contributors • Interviewers • Researchers • Designers • Video editors • Social media managers • Podcast producers • Freelancers • Interns • Business development and branded-content teams • Any external partner producing material for BLVD These guidelines apply to all BLVD platforms, including the website, digital magazine, social media, newsletters, podcasts, videos, events, branded content, sponsorship materials, and internal editorial documents.

4. Foundational Values

BLVD's AI use must uphold the following values: Accuracy No AI-generated information may be published without human verification through reliable sources, documents, interviews, direct evidence, or editorially approved references. Human accountability A BLVD human editor or producer must always be responsible for final editorial decisions. Transparency Readers should not be misled about how content was produced. Significant AI use must be disclosed when it meaningfully affects the final content. Originality BLVD must protect the originality of its writing, reporting, interviews, photography, design, and storytelling. AI must not be used to pass off machine-generated work as human reporting. Fairness and dignity AI must not be used in ways that reinforce bias, discrimination, stereotyping, classism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or stigma against workers, freelancers, BPO professionals, virtual assistants, migrants, LGBTQIA+ people, people of diverse SOGIESC, or any community BLVD covers. Privacy and confidentiality Unpublished interviews, confidential notes, private emails, source identities, business documents, internal editorial plans, contracts, and sensitive personal information must not be uploaded into public AI tools without approval. Reader trust AI should only be used when it improves the quality, clarity, accessibility, efficiency, or reach of BLVD's work. It should never be used merely to mass-produce low-quality content.

5. Definitions

AI Artificial intelligence refers to software systems that can generate, analyze, summarize, classify, transform, recommend, or assist with content, data, images, audio, video, or workflows. Generative AI Generative AI refers to tools that can create new text, images, audio, video, code, designs, summaries, headlines, captions, scripts, or other content based on prompts. AI-assisted content Content where AI helped with limited tasks such as outlining, grammar checking, transcription cleanup, headline options, translation assistance, or formatting, but the reporting, analysis, writing, and final editorial judgment remain human-led. AI-generated content Content where AI produced a substantial portion of the text, image, audio, video, script, or visual material. Synthetic media Images, videos, audio, likenesses, voices, scenes, or representations created or significantly altered using AI. Significant AI use AI use that materially affects the final published content, such as generating paragraphs, creating images, producing summaries for publication, translating full articles, recreating a voice or likeness, or generating audience-facing editorial material.

6. Governance and Approval

BLVD should establish an AI Editorial Review Group or assign an AI Policy Lead. This may initially be composed of: • Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor • Editorial Lead • Creative/Visual Lead • Social Media Lead • Legal or compliance adviser, if available • Data/privacy point person, if available This group is responsible for: • Approving AI tools for editorial use • Reviewing high-risk AI use • Updating these guidelines • Handling AI-related corrections • Maintaining an AI usage register • Training contributors and staff • Reviewing disclosures and public-facing statements

7. Approved Uses of AI

BLVD staff and contributors may use AI for the following, provided the output is reviewed by a human: Editorial planning AI may help brainstorm interview angles, article structures, theme ideas, episode outlines, audience questions, or editorial calendars. AI-generated ideas must be treated as starting points only. Final editorial direction must come from BLVD editors. Research preparation AI may help identify possible areas to research, summarize background material already provided by the team, organize notes, or prepare preliminary question lists. AI must not be treated as a factual source. All factual claims must be verified through primary sources, credible reports, direct interviews, or editorially approved references. Interview preparation AI may help draft interview questions, refine the flow of an interview, identify possible follow-up areas, or organize pre-interview notes. AI must not invent biographical details, achievements, quotes, affiliations, or experiences of an interview subject. Transcription support AI transcription tools may be used to create rough transcripts from interviews, podcasts, or video recordings. All transcripts must be checked by a human before quotes are published. BLVD must not publish quotes based solely on unverified AI transcription. Translation assistance AI may assist with translation or multilingual drafting, especially for internal review, subtitles, or initial drafts. A fluent human reviewer must check translated material before publication, especially when the content involves identity, culture, labor, law, health, politics, personal experience, or sensitive community issues. Editing and proofreading AI may assist with grammar, spelling, clarity, conciseness, headline options, SEO descriptions, social captions, and formatting. AI must not flatten a writer's voice, erase culturally specific language, or make interview subjects sound more polished than they actually were in a way that changes meaning. Data organization AI may help classify survey responses, cluster themes, organize spreadsheet notes, summarize open-ended responses, or identify patterns. Any AI-assisted analysis must be checked by a human. AI-generated interpretations must not be published without verification. Accessibility AI may assist in creating alt text, captions, subtitles, plain-language summaries, audio descriptions, or format adaptations. Accessibility content must be reviewed by a human to ensure it is accurate, respectful, and useful. Social media adaptation AI may help adapt an already approved article into captions, pull quotes, teaser text, short scripts, carousel copy, or newsletter blurbs. A human editor or social media lead must approve the final version before posting.

8. Restricted Uses Requiring Senior Editorial Approval

The following uses require approval from a senior BLVD editor before publication or release: AI-generated summaries for publication AI may help draft article summaries, newsletter previews, or "key takeaways," but these must be checked against the original article and approved by an editor. AI-assisted full translations Full article translations may use AI support only if a qualified human reviewer checks accuracy, tone, cultural meaning, and context. AI-generated visual illustrations AI-generated illustrations may be used only when they are clearly illustrative, not presented as documentary evidence, and properly labeled. AI use in sensitive stories Any AI use in stories involving politics, labor exploitation, mental health, discrimination, sexual and reproductive health, LGBTQIA+ rights, poverty, trauma, conflict, abuse, or legal disputes must be reviewed carefully. AI use in branded content AI may assist with branded-content drafts, campaign concepts, or sponsor decks, but commercial AI use must not blur the line between advertising and editorial independence. AI-personalized content Any AI system used to personalize what readers see, recommend articles, or segment audiences must be reviewed for fairness, privacy, and editorial integrity.

9. Prohibited Uses of AI

BLVD must not use AI to: 1. Publish fully AI-generated articles and present them as human journalism. 2. Invent quotes, scenes, sources, documents, statistics, events, credentials, or personal experiences. 3. Create fake interviews or fictionalized answers from real people. 4. Generate or alter journalistic photos, videos, or audio in a way that misrepresents reality. 5. Recreate a person's voice, face, likeness, identity, or style without clear consent and disclosure. 6. Upload confidential source material, private interviews, internal documents, contracts, or unpublished investigations into public AI tools without approval. 7. Use AI-generated facts without independent verification. 8. Use AI to plagiarize, paraphrase, or imitate another publication's work. 9. Use AI to create defamatory, discriminatory, exploitative, or misleading content. 10. Use AI to replace required human editorial review. 11. Use AI detectors as definitive proof that a writer or contributor used AI. 12. Use AI-generated images as if they were real photographs. 13. Use AI to manipulate audience behavior in deceptive ways. 14. Use AI to create fake engagement, fake comments, fake testimonials, fake reviews, or fake reader responses. 15. Use AI to impersonate BLVD editors, writers, interview subjects, partners, sponsors, or readers.

10. Editorial Workflow Guidelines

Before using AI The team member must ask: • Why am I using AI? • Will this improve the quality, clarity, accessibility, or efficiency of the work? • Is this task low-risk or high-risk? • Am I giving the tool confidential, unpublished, or sensitive information? • Could this use mislead readers? • Will I be able to verify the output? • Does this require disclosure? During AI use The team member must: • Use approved tools when available. • Avoid uploading confidential or sensitive information. • Save relevant prompts and outputs for high-risk or significant uses. • Treat AI output as unverified material. • Check for factual errors, bias, missing context, and plagiarism risk. • Preserve the human voice and editorial intent of the piece. Before publication The editor must confirm: • All facts are verified. • All quotes are checked. • All sources are real and properly attributed. • AI did not invent or distort information. • The piece follows BLVD's editorial standards. • Disclosure is included when needed. • Visuals are authentic or clearly labeled. • The final work serves readers and respects subjects.

11. Verification Standards

AI output must be verified before use in any published material. For factual claims, BLVD should rely on: • Direct interviews • Primary documents • Official records • Peer-reviewed studies • Credible institutional reports • Reputable news organizations • Direct observation • Data reviewed by a human • Expert confirmation, when needed AI-generated citations, links, studies, names, laws, dates, and statistics must be checked manually. AI is known to produce convincing but false information. No claim should be published simply because an AI tool provided it confidently.

12. Quotes and Interviews

BLVD's interview-driven journalism depends on trust. Therefore: • AI must never invent quotes. • AI must never "improve" a quote in a way that changes meaning. • AI may help clean filler words from transcripts only when the meaning, tone, and intent remain intact. • Direct quotes must be checked against the recording, transcript, or interview notes. • If a quote is translated, BLVD must preserve the speaker's meaning and cultural context. • If AI-assisted transcription or translation is used for sensitive quotes, a human must review the source material. For personal profiles, BLVD must protect the subject's dignity. AI should not be used to exaggerate hardship, dramatize trauma, invent emotional scenes, or make a subject's life story more cinematic than the facts support.

13. Visual Journalism, Images, and Design

BLVD values premium visual storytelling. AI may support design exploration, mood boards, layout studies, illustration concepts, and non-documentary visual assets. However: • Documentary photos must not be altered using AI in ways that change reality. • AI-generated images must not be presented as real photographs. • AI-generated illustrations must be labeled when used editorially. • AI must not be used to add, remove, or change people, objects, settings, expressions, clothing, protest signs, documents, or other meaningful elements in journalistic images. • AI-generated images of real people require explicit consent if the person is identifiable or being represented. • AI must not be used to sexualize, stereotype, beautify, lighten, darken, or otherwise manipulate a person's appearance in a misleading or discriminatory way. • Photo captions must clearly distinguish between real photos, photo illustrations, composites, and AI-generated images. Suggested labels: • "AI-generated illustration" • "Photo illustration created with AI assistance" • "Composite image; not a documentary photograph" • "AI-assisted visualization based on editorially verified information"

14. Audio and Video

AI may be used for captions, subtitles, rough cuts, transcription, audio cleanup, translation drafts, and production workflow support. BLVD must not use AI to: • Clone a person's voice without consent. • Make someone appear to say something they did not say. • Create fake footage of real events. • Manipulate facial expressions or gestures in a misleading way. • Generate artificial presenters or hosts without clear disclosure. • Use AI voiceovers that could be mistaken for a real person without labeling. If synthetic voice, synthetic video, or AI avatars are used for non-news creative formats, they must be clearly disclosed.

15. Transparency and Disclosure

BLVD should disclose AI use when it significantly affects what the audience sees, hears, reads, or understands. Disclosure is generally required when: • AI generated a substantial portion of the published text. • AI created or significantly altered an image, illustration, video, or audio. • AI translated a full article or major section. • AI produced a published summary or explainer. • AI was used in a way readers would reasonably want to know. • AI was used in sensitive or high-stakes content. • AI generated synthetic media. Disclosure may not be necessary for minor internal uses such as spellcheck, grammar suggestions, formatting, transcription drafts, brainstorming, internal planning, or headline options, provided the final work is human-reviewed and AI did not materially shape the content. Suggested disclosure language: For AI-assisted editing: "This story was edited with limited AI assistance for grammar and clarity. Reporting, verification, and final editorial decisions were completed by BLVD editors." For AI-assisted translation: "This article was translated with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor." For AI-generated illustration: "Image: AI-generated illustration, reviewed and approved by BLVD." For AI-assisted summary: "This summary was created with AI assistance and checked by BLVD editors against the full article." For substantial AI use: "BLVD used AI tools in the production of this piece. The work was reviewed, verified, and approved by human editors before publication."

16. Privacy, Confidentiality, and Data Protection

BLVD must protect sources, contributors, readers, partners, and internal operations. Staff and contributors must not upload the following into public AI tools without approval: • Unpublished interviews • Confidential source identities • Private contact details • Personal addresses • Financial information • Contracts • Sponsor negotiations • Internal strategy documents • Legal documents • Sensitive community data • Mental health, medical, sexual, or identity-related personal information • Unreleased articles or investigations • Private emails or messages • Proprietary audience data When in doubt, do not upload. For sensitive materials, BLVD should use secure, approved tools or human-only review.

17. Bias, Representation, and Harm Reduction

AI tools can reproduce bias from the data they were trained on. BLVD must be especially careful when covering workers, queer communities, women, migrants, freelancers, BPO employees, people from the Global South, people with disabilities, and communities affected by poverty, discrimination, or stigma. Editors must check whether AI-assisted content: • Uses stereotypes • Erases local context • Overgeneralizes Filipino or Global South experiences • Treats English fluency as intelligence • Frames virtual workers only through hustle, sacrifice, or poverty • Romanticizes overwork • Uses classist or colonial language • Misgenders people • Misrepresents LGBTQIA+ identities • Uses insensitive language around trauma or health • Makes unsupported claims about groups of people BLVD should prioritize human interviews, lived experience, and community knowledge over AI-generated generalizations.

18. Intellectual Property and Originality

BLVD must respect copyright, ownership, and creative labor. Staff and contributors must not use AI to: • Rewrite another publication's article and present it as original. • Imitate a living writer's distinctive style without permission. • Generate images that intentionally copy a specific artist's protected style for publication. • Use copyrighted lyrics, scripts, books, essays, or articles in ways that violate rights. • Remove attribution from source material. • Claim AI-generated work as fully original human work. AI-generated or AI-assisted materials must be checked for originality and proper attribution.

19. Editorial Independence and Commercial Content

BLVD may use AI to support sponsorship research, pitch decks, audience segmentation, campaign ideas, and branded-content drafts. However: • Sponsors must not influence BLVD's editorial judgment through AI tools, data, or automation. • Branded content must be clearly labeled. • AI must not generate fake testimonials, fake expert endorsements, or fake reader reactions. • AI must not be used to make sponsor claims that are unverified. • AI-generated commercial copy must be checked for accuracy, legality, and brand safety. • Editorial and branded-content workflows must remain clearly separated.

20. Sensitive Coverage

AI use should be minimized or subjected to senior review in stories involving: • Labor abuse • Unpaid work or exploitation • Mental health • Suicide or self-harm • Sexual and reproductive health • Gender-based violence • HIV or health status • LGBTQIA+ identity and SOGIESC • Children and young people • Legal cases • Elections and politics • Religion • Conflict or disasters • Personal trauma • Financial hardship • Immigration or migration status In these stories, AI must not replace trauma-informed interviewing, expert consultation, legal review, or human editorial judgment.

21. Contributors and Freelancers

All BLVD contributors must follow these AI guidelines. Contributors must disclose to their assigning editor if AI was used significantly in: • Drafting article text • Generating questions • Translating interviews • Summarizing source material • Creating visuals • Producing audio or video • Analyzing data • Writing captions or social copy Failure to disclose significant AI use may result in revision, rejection, correction, or termination of assignment. BLVD should include an AI disclosure clause in contributor agreements. Suggested clause: "Contributors must disclose any significant use of artificial intelligence in the creation, editing, translation, research, analysis, or production of submitted work. Contributors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, legality, and integrity of their submissions. BLVD reserves the right to reject work that violates its AI guidelines."

22. AI Usage Log

For significant AI use, the responsible team member should record: • Title or project name • Person responsible • AI tool used • Purpose of use • Type of content affected • Whether confidential data was used • Verification steps completed • Disclosure decision • Approving editor • Date of approval This log helps BLVD maintain accountability, correct errors, and update policy over time.

23. Corrections and Accountability

If AI use contributes to an error, BLVD must correct it promptly. Corrections should: • Identify the error. • Correct the record. • Explain the role of AI if relevant. • Review how the error passed through the workflow. • Update internal safeguards if needed. BLVD should not blame AI for editorial failures. If BLVD publishes it, BLVD is responsible for it.

24. Training and AI Literacy

BLVD should provide basic AI training for editors, writers, producers, and contributors. Training should cover: • What AI can and cannot do • Hallucinations and false citations • Verification practices • Bias and representation • Privacy and data protection • Copyright and plagiarism • Disclosure standards • Synthetic media risks • AI use in interviews and transcription • BLVD's approval process Training should be updated as tools, laws, newsroom practices, and audience expectations evolve.

25. Tool Approval

BLVD should maintain a list of approved, restricted, and prohibited AI tools. Before approving a tool, BLVD should assess: • Data privacy terms • Whether prompts are used for model training • Security controls • Copyright risks • Accuracy and reliability • Bias risks • Export and recordkeeping features • Cost • Suitability for editorial use • Whether outputs can be verified Free public AI tools should be treated as higher risk, especially for unpublished or sensitive materials.

26. Public-Facing AI Statement

BLVD may publish a short AI statement for readers. Suggested version: "BLVD uses artificial intelligence as a support tool in limited parts of our editorial and production workflow, such as research preparation, transcription support, editing assistance, translation drafts, accessibility, and visual experimentation. Our journalism remains human-led, human-verified, and human-accountable. We do not use AI to invent sources, quotes, facts, or reporting. Significant AI-generated or AI-assisted content will be disclosed when it affects what readers see, hear, or understand."

27. Editorial Decision Checklist

Before publishing any AI-assisted content, editors should ask: • Did AI materially shape this content? • Are all facts independently verified? • Are all quotes checked? • Are all sources real? • Is the content original? • Could readers be misled? • Does this require disclosure? • Were privacy and confidentiality protected? • Could the content reinforce bias or harm? • Has a human editor approved the final version? • Does this serve BLVD's readers and mission?

28. BLVD's Bottom Line

BLVD may use AI to become faster, clearer, more accessible, and more creative. But BLVD must not use AI to become less human. Our strongest journalism will still come from real interviews, lived experience, sharp editorial judgment, cultural sensitivity, beautiful storytelling, and trust with the communities we cover. AI can help us polish the work. It must never become the work.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy, please reach out to us: