Daily News Reporter#

AI-Assisted international news reporting toolkit with structured workflows and multi-source verification.

⚠️ Important Clarification#

This skill is NOT a fully automated/unattended system. It operates as an AI-assisted workflow toolkit:

ComponentWhat It DoesWho/What Executesnews_collector.pyData models, source classification, verification logicAI Agent uses these structuresgenerate_pdf.pyConverts Markdown reports to PDFRuns automaticallySKILL.mdWorkflow instructions for AIAI follows these guidelinesWeb SearchActual information gatheringAI Agent executes via search tools****AnalysisContent analysis and insight generationAI Agent performs

Bottom line: This skill provides the framework and tools for professional news reporting, but requires an AI agent with web search capabilities to perform the actual data collection and analysis.

Overview#

This skill provides structured workflows and utilities for generating professional daily international affairs reports:

1. Structured Information Collection - Tiered source system and verification frameworks
2. Source Verification Guidelines - Cross-reference methodologies and reliability indicators
3. Content Analysis Framework - Impact assessment and trend analysis guidelines
4. Report Generation Tools - Markdown-to-PDF conversion and templates

When to Use#

Use this skill when:

• You need structured workflows for international news reporting
• You want consistent multi-tier source verification (Tier 1-4 system)
• You need professional PDF report generation from Markdown
• You want standardized templates for daily news summaries
• You're an AI agent helping a user generate news reports

Do NOT expect: Fully automated, unattended 24/7 news monitoring without AI involvement.

Core Workflow (AI-Executed)#

Step 1: Information Collection (AI Agent Executes)#

The AI agent performs web searches using the tiered source guidance:

Search Guidance for AI:

• Use web search tools to query current news
• Prioritize Tier 1 sources when available
• Collect 6-10 sources across different tiers
• Document source URLs and timestamps

Tier 1 - Official/International Organizations (Reliability: 5/5)

• UN News (news.un.org)
• International Maritime Organization (imo.org)
• Central bank official statements (federalreserve.gov, etc.)
• Government foreign ministry statements

Tier 2 - Professional Financial Media (Reliability: 4-5/5)

• Bloomberg, Reuters, CNBC
• Trading Economics
• 金十数据 (for Chinese market perspective)

Tier 3 - Mainstream International Media (Reliability: 4/5)

• CNN, BBC, AP News
• Major national news outlets

Tier 4 - Regional/Industry Sources (Reliability: 2-3/5)

• Local news for specific regions
• Industry publications
• Use with caution, require verification

Recommended Search Queries:

text

"[Date] international news global hot topics"
"[Organization] latest statement [topic]"
"[Market/commodity] price [date] latest"
"site:un.org [topic]"  # For official sources
"site:federalreserve.gov latest"

Step 2: Information Processing (AI Agent Executes)#

Source Verification (AI performs):

• Cross-reference key facts across minimum 2 independent sources
• Prioritize Tier 1 sources for critical information
• Flag information from Tier 3-4 sources with reliability indicators
• Use news_collector.py data structures to organize sources

Structured Information Format:

text

Event:
  - Time: [timestamp with timezone]
  - Location: [specific location]
  - Key Actors: [entities involved]
  - Verified Facts: [from Tier 1-2 sources]
  - Context: [background from multiple sources]
  - Impact: [market/geopolitical analysis]

Step 3: Content Analysis (AI Agent Executes)#

Impact Assessment Framework:

SeverityCriteriaExamples⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Global impact, major powers involved, market shockWar escalation, central bank policy shifts⭐⭐⭐⭐Regional impact, economic consequencesEnergy supply disruptions, trade conflicts⭐⭐⭐Localized but significantNational policy changes, major corporate events⭐⭐Limited impactRoutine diplomatic activities⭐Minor interestLocal news, minor incidents

Trend Analysis Guidelines:

• Identify patterns across multiple events
• Compare with historical precedents
• Assess trajectory (escalating/stable/de-escalating)

Step 4: Report Generation (AI + Scripts)#

AI Actions:

1. Populate report template with collected data
2. Apply source attribution tags ([Official], [Professional], etc.)
3. Write analysis and insights
4. Save as Markdown file

Automated Script Execution:

bash

# Convert Markdown to PDF (runs automatically)
python scripts/generate_pdf.py --input report.md --output report.pdf

Source Reliability Framework#

Tier 1 - Official/International (Reliability: 5/5)#

• Use for: Critical facts, official statements, verified data
• Examples: UN agencies, central banks, government statements
• Attribution tag: [Official], [Organization name]

Tier 2 - Professional Financial (Reliability: 4-5/5)#

• Use for: Market data, economic analysis, policy interpretation
• Examples: Bloomberg, Reuters, Trading Economics
• Attribution tag: [Professional], [Source name]

Tier 3 - Mainstream Media (Reliability: 4/5)#

• Use for: Event coverage, general news, context
• Examples: CNN, BBC, major national outlets
• Attribution tag: [International], [Source name]

Tier 4 - Regional/Industry (Reliability: 2-3/5)#

• Use for: Supplementary context, specific angles
• Examples: Local news, industry blogs
• Attribution tag: [Regional/Industry], [Source name], verification recommended

Scripts and Utilities#

news_collector.py#

Purpose: Data models and structures for source management Usage:

python

from scripts.news_collector import NewsCollector, NewsItem, NewsSource

collector = NewsCollector()
sources = collector.get_sources_by_topic('energy')
# Use data structures to organize collected information

Note: This is a data structure utility, NOT an automated web scraper.

generate_pdf.py#

Purpose: Convert Markdown reports to professionally formatted PDF Usage:

bash

python scripts/generate_pdf.py --input report.md --output report.pdf

Note: This runs automatically, no AI involvement required.

Source Directory (references/source_directory.md)#

Purpose: Reference list of recommended information sources Usage: AI consults this when planning search strategy

Report Templates#

Templates available in assets/templates/:

• daily_report_template.md - Standard daily report format with placeholders
• Use as starting point, AI fills in content

Best Practices for AI Agents#

1. Always verify critical information across at least 2 Tier 1-2 sources
2. Timestamp all data with timezone and source publication time
3. Distinguish facts from analysis - clearly label opinions/forecasts
4. Include contradictory information when sources disagree, with attribution
5. Update risk assessments based on new developments
6. Archive sources - maintain links/references for fact-checking
7. Be honest about limitations - acknowledge when information is incomplete

Quality Checklist#

Before finalizing report:

• All Tier 1 facts verified with official sources
• Market data from Tier 2 financial sources
• Impact ratings justified with evidence
• Contradictory information noted
• Source attribution complete with tier tags
• Timestamps accurate
• PDF generated successfully
• No placeholder text remaining
• Clear distinction between facts and AI analysis

Limitations and Disclaimers#

System Limitations#

• NOT unattended/fully automated - Requires AI agent for data collection
• Information delayed by search indexing (typically 1-2 hours)
• Cannot access paywalled content
• Language limitations for non-English/non-Chinese sources

Content Limitations#

• Analysis based on publicly available information
• Predictions subject to rapid change in volatile situations
• No real-time data feeds - relies on search tools
• Source availability depends on search engine indexing

Appropriate Use#

• ✅ AI-assisted research and reporting
• ✅ Structured news summaries
• ✅ Educational/analytical purposes
• ✅ Personal information aggregation

Inappropriate Use#

• ❌ Unattended automated news service
• ❌ Real-time trading decisions without verification
• ❌ Replacement for professional journalism
• ❌ Source of truth for critical decisions without human review

Example Usage#

User Request: "Generate today's international news report"

AI Agent Execution:

1. Read SKILL.md to understand workflow
2. Use web search tools to query current news (6-10 sources)
3. Apply tiered verification framework
4. Structure information using news_collector.py patterns
5. Write analysis following impact assessment guidelines
6. Generate Markdown using template
7. Run generate_pdf.py to create PDF
8. Present both formats to user

Output: Professional daily report in Markdown and PDF formats

Technical Requirements#

For AI Agent#

• Web search capability (web_search tool or equivalent)
• Ability to read and execute Python scripts
• Markdown processing capability
• PDF viewing/verification capability

For Script Execution#

• Python 3.8+
• reportlab library ( pip install reportlab)
• Standard library only for news_collector.py

Files Included#

text

daily-news-reporter/
├── SKILL.md                          # This file - workflow instructions
├── scripts/
│   ├── news_collector.py            # Data structures (not a scraper)
│   └── generate_pdf.py              # PDF generation tool
├── references/
│   └── source_directory.md          # Source reference list
└── assets/
    └── templates/
        └── daily_report_template.md # Report template

License and Attribution#

This skill provides frameworks and tools for news reporting. Users are responsible for:

• Verifying information accuracy
• Complying with source website terms of service
• Proper attribution of quoted sources
• Responsible use of generated content

Summary#

FeatureStatusNotesAutomated PDF generation✅ Yesgenerate_pdf.pyStructured workflows✅ YesSKILL.md guidelinesSource tiering framework✅ YesTier 1-4 systemAutomated web scraping❌ NoAI performs searchesUnattended 24/7 operation❌ No****Requires AI agentReal-time data feeds❌ NoSearch-based only

Bottom line: This is an AI-assisted toolkit, not a fully autonomous news bot.