Kiwi-designed AI tool wins global media award

An innovative AI tool which judges said was “good for democracy, journalism and media users” has
taken out a ‘Best Use of AI’ prize at the global International News Media Association awards, beating
media groups from Sweden, the United States and India.

Managing Director Stuff-Masthead Publishing, Joanna Norris, built the bespoke tool to search
through and surface important community stories from the thousands of local body documents
published by councils each year.

Named ‘Democracy AI’ the tool, which was trialled first at the Waikato Times last year, is used by
Stuff news editors and reporters to search and summarise critical local information from the many,
lengthy local body documents which are available, but often seen only by a few. The stories are then
edited and published with human checks and oversight, surfacing stories which would likely
otherwise go unreported.

Judges said Democracy AI, which harnesses freely available AI tools, was a “blueprint for many
publishers” and “an inspired use of the latest technologies to reach readers in remote areas”. “It not
just helps reporters to do a better job . . . but also focus on topics and issues that are at the heart of
any community”.

Stuff beat media groups from Sweden, the United States and India to take out the global ‘Best Use of
AI in Customer-Facing Products’ category at the awards, before winning INMA’s overall Best in Asia
Pacific, in a competition which attracted 839 entries from 286 media organisations in 49 countries.
Stuff Owner and Publisher Sinead Boucher said the AI prize was highly sought after, as media
organisations seek to harness the technology to improve credible and trusted journalism by assisting
the work of real reporters.

“As our editors have said, using Democracy AI as a tool enables their reporters to spend more time
out in the field talking to real people, while ensuring local communities are kept informed on things
that really impact their daily lives,” she says. “Stuff is always looking to leverage the best in new
technology while keeping excellent journalism at the heart of what we deliver.”

Waikato Times Editor Jonathan MacKenzie, who was first to use the tool, says it has been a
gamechanger for reporting on the 11 local authorities in his area:
“It’s like having an army of worker bees happily going about their toil allowing our reporters to focus
on more complex and meaningful stories that provide context for readers in their everyday lives. Far
better for my staff to be out talking to people and digging stuff up than stuck behind a desk reading
a council agenda,” he says.
“In my experience the best journalism is done, when there's more time for prospecting in the field and
that’s what this new tool affords us.”

About Stuff Group
Stuff connects with around 3.4 million Kiwis every month across its major businesses,
delivering quality news, content and experiences that help make Aotearoa a better place.
Stuff Digital has unrivalled reach across the nation through number one news website
stuff.co.nz and homegrown social network Neighbourly. Stuff Masthead Publishing
connects with audiences through subscriber-led digital and printed metropolitan, regional
and community publications, as well as a range of much-loved consumer magazines. Stuff
Brand Connections arms advertisers and partners with a comprehensive range of
cross-media advertising and Stuff Events solutions. Find out more at advertise.stuff.co.nz