diff --git a/ai_processor/fact_extractor.py b/ai_processor/fact_extractor.py
index ee5f6f8..57673c7 100644
--- a/ai_processor/fact_extractor.py
+++ b/ai_processor/fact_extractor.py
@@ -72,34 +72,48 @@ class FactExtractor:
             """
             
             # Call the AI service with gpt-oss model for fact extraction
-            response = requests.post(
-                extraction_url,
-                json={
-                    "model": self.model,
-                    "messages": [
-                        {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant that extracts structured facts from articles."},
-                        {"role": "user", "content": prompt}
-                    ],
-                    "temperature": 0.3,
-                    "max_tokens": 1000
-                },
-                headers=self._get_headers(),
-                timeout=60
-            )
-            
-            response.raise_for_status()
+            try:
+                response = requests.post(
+                    extraction_url,
+                    json={
+                        "model": self.model,
+                        "messages": [
+                            {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant that extracts structured facts from articles."},
+                            {"role": "user", "content": prompt}
+                        ],
+                        "temperature": 0.3,
+                        "max_tokens": 1000
+                    },
+                    headers=self._get_headers(),
+                    timeout=60
+                )
+                response.raise_for_status()
+            except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
+                logger.error(f"Request failed for article '{title}': {e}")
+                # Return basic structure if request fails
+                return self._create_basic_fact_structure(article_content, title)
             
             # Parse the response
-            result = response.json()
-            extracted_text = result['choices'][0]['message']['content'].strip()
-            
-            # Try to parse the JSON from the response
             try:
-                facts = json.loads(extracted_text)
-            except json.JSONDecodeError:
-                # If JSON parsing fails, create a basic structure
-                logger.warning(f"Failed to parse JSON from AI response for article '{title}'. Creating basic structure.")
+                result = response.json()
+                extracted_text = result['choices'][0]['message']['content'].strip()
+            except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+                logger.error(f"Failed to parse JSON response from AI service for article '{title}': {e}")
+                # Return basic structure if response parsing fails
+                return self._create_basic_fact_structure(article_content, title)
+            
+            # Check if the response is empty or invalid
+            if not extracted_text or extracted_text.strip() == "":
+                logger.warning(f"Empty response from AI service for article '{title}'. Creating basic structure.")
                 facts = self._create_basic_fact_structure(article_content, title)
+            else:
+                # Try to parse the JSON from the response
+                try:
+                    facts = json.loads(extracted_text)
+                except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+                    # If JSON parsing fails, create a basic structure
+                    logger.warning(f"Failed to parse JSON from AI response for article '{title}': {e}. Creating basic structure.")
+                    facts = self._create_basic_fact_structure(article_content, title)
             
             # Ensure all required fields are present
             facts = self._ensure_required_fields(facts, title, article_content)