AUCKLAND, Today: Democracy AI has taken out Best Use of AI at the global International News Media Association awards, beating entries from Sweden, the US and India. Judges called it “good for democracy, journalism and media users.”
The tool was created by Joanna Norris, Managing Director of Stuff Masthead Publishing. It was designed to scan thousands of council documents and uncover local stories that matter—but often get buried or missed altogether.
First trialled at the Waikato Times, the tool helps Stuff journalists summarise long, complex documents that are technically public—but rarely seen. Every story is still checked and edited by real people.
The goal is simple: surface important local stories that would otherwise go unreported. “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.”
Judges described Democracy AI as “a blueprint for many publishers” and “an inspired use of the latest technologies to reach readers in remote areas.” It was built using freely available AI tools.
Stuff won the Best Use of AI in Customer-Facing Products category, then went on to win INMA’s overall Best in Asia Pacific—chosen from 839 entries across 286 media organisations in 49 countries.
“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.” – Joanna Norris
Stuff Owner and Publisher Sinead Boucher says AI has major potential to support trusted journalism and real reporters. “Stuff is always looking to leverage the best in new technology while keeping excellent journalism at the heart of what we deliver.”
“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.
Waikato Times Editor Jonathan MacKenzie, the first to use the tool, says it’s transformed how they report on the region’s 11 local authorities.
“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,” MacKenzie 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.”
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