“Thanks for calling The Catskill Mountain Herald — are you calling to place a classified or obituary, follow up on your subscription, or do you have a story idea for the newsroom?”
Built for the calls newspapers + magazines + journalism + independent publishers actually get
Anonymous-source tip intake — shield-law-aware
When a caller says 'my name can't be on this' / 'I need to talk to a reporter off the record', the AI (safety.ts rule 21g) sets source_protection=anonymous, suppresses the standard recording-consent disclosure, does NOT capture caller-ID, captures the tip + a secure callback method (Signal handle / SecureDrop / dropbox URL) only, and flags the booking row for the assigned reporter only. Per NY Civ. Rights §79-h, CA Evid. Code §1070, IL 735 ILCS 5/8-901, NJ 2A:84A-21, OH 2739.04, and federal Branzburg v. Hayes / proposed PRESS Act, reporter's privilege is preserved. Subpoena handling escalates to publisher + counsel — see /privacy → Legal process.
Libel / retraction calls — verbatim, no apology, no commitment
Caller threatens 'I'll sue, retract this NOW' — the AI (safety.ts rule 21h) captures verbatim with extra-restricted access, NEVER apologizes (apologies are admissible as publisher admissions), NEVER characterizes the article ('I'm sure we got it right'), NEVER commits to a retraction. Only says: 'I'm taking down everything you're saying word-for-word and giving it to the publisher right away.' Protects your anti-SLAPP defense (CA §425.16, NY CPLR 3211(g), TX TCPA, IL CPA, OR ORS 31.150).
Obituary calls: bereaved-caller tone (safety.ts rule 11c extends to newspaper obits — no upsell, hushed tone, capture with empathy). Classifieds: garage sales, lost dogs, want ads. Legal notices: state-mandated foreclosure / probate / municipal-bid notices ($50-$500 each, specific word-count + publication-schedule requirements). Subscription complaints: 'my paper didn't come this week' — slow-speech mode (rule 29a) for elderly subscriber base. Press-pass-verification calls (when local PD wants to confirm a reporter's identity).
Trafficking / CSEC tip-routing built in
Caller volunteers a trafficking-related tip — the AI (safety.ts rule 11k) shares National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 + 'BeFree' to 233733 alongside taking the tip for your reporter. Critical for community-newspaper public-safety beat.
FOIL / FOIA / records-request intake
Citizens calling to get help filing public-records requests (NY FOIL, federal FOIA, state-equivalents). The AI captures: which agency, what records, what time-period, requestor's name + phone + email + delivery preference. Routed to your investigative-desk reporter.
How it works for newspapers + magazines + journalism + independent publishers
Shield-law-aware intake (state-specific)
Configure your state's reporter's-privilege statute in business_notes (NY §79-h, CA §1070, IL 5/8-901, NJ 2A:84A-21, OH 2739.04, etc.). The AI quotes your documented posture; never improvises on privilege.
Anti-SLAPP-defense-clean libel response
Verbatim capture + no-apology + no-commitment posture preserves anti-SLAPP defense across CA / NY / TX / IL / OR / WA / DC + 30+ states. Publisher + counsel review before any retraction conversation.
Bereaved-caller-aware obituary intake
Death-care grief-trigger (rule 11c) extends to newspaper obit calls — hushed tone, no upsell ('did you want a photo? we have a premium tier...'), capture with empathy. Bereaved families place obits with the local paper; the AI matches the dignity that call requires.
Your dashboard
Here's what you wake up to.
Latest call · 9 min ago
$389
Maria Hernandez · Emergency leak repair
Tomorrow · 9:00 AM· 412 Oak St· with Carlos
“You're booked, Maria — Carlos will be there tomorrow at 9 with parts for a copper pinhole leak.”
From $107/mo (billed annually). No contract. Cancel anytime.
$129/mo if you go month-to-month. Three plans (Starter / Professional / Enterprise), voice cloning included with any active plan, BYO phone number. Most newspapers + magazines + journalism + independent publishers start on Professional for multi-staff routing.
FAQ for newspapers + magazines + journalism + independent publishers
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Will the AI keep my anonymous source's identity off any recording?
Yes — when a caller says 'my name can't be on this', the AI (safety.ts rule 21g) sets source_protection=anonymous, suppresses the recording-consent disclosure, doesn't capture caller-ID, and routes only to the assigned reporter with extra-restricted access. Subpoena handling escalates to your publisher + counsel before any disclosure. Per NY §79-h, CA §1070, federal Branzburg / proposed PRESS Act.
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A caller threatens libel suit — what does the AI do?
Captures verbatim with extra-restricted access, NEVER apologizes (apologies are admissible against the publisher), NEVER characterizes the article, NEVER commits to a retraction. Only says: 'I'm taking down everything you're saying word-for-word and giving it to the publisher right away.' Preserves your anti-SLAPP defense.
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Will the AI handle bereaved families placing obituaries with dignity?
Yes. Safety.ts rule 11c (death-care grief-trigger) extends to newspaper obits — hushed tone, no upsell, capture with empathy. A widow placing her husband's obit doesn't get a chirpy 'happy to help!' or a 'do you want premium placement?' pitch. She gets dignity + the obit captured cleanly.
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FOIL / FOIA / public-records request intake?
Yes — the AI captures which agency, what records, what time-period, and the requestor's contact, then routes to your investigative-desk reporter. Doesn't draft the request itself (that's the citizen's or the reporter's role).
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Press-pass-verification calls from local PD?
List your reporters' names in business_notes; the AI confirms only what you've documented ('Yes, [reporter name] holds a press pass issued YYYY-MM-DD'). For unlisted callers claiming press credentials, the AI takes a message. Never improvises on credential attestation (rule 21b extension).
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