About
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly transformed the media landscape, but with unequal access to AI tools and expertise, many independent media outlets are struggling to adapt.
Our recent survey of journalists from more than 70 countries in the Global South and emerging economies found that most AI users are self-taught, and almost 8 in 10 had no established AI policy in their newsrooms. Without support and structure around AI use and oversight, newsrooms can miss crucial opportunities and can open themselves up to significant reputational, legal and financial risks.
Journalists also play a vital role in increasing public awareness around AI’s societal impact and driving accountability. Yet reporters face challenges in keeping up with the rapid pace of technological change, and limited exposure to AI experts in their region hinders a comprehensive understanding of the AI and tech landscape.
Overview
Through two complementary programmes, we support independent newsrooms and journalists across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe to navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI, while upholding ethical standards around journalistic integrity, independence and freedom from bias.
Our newsroom programme helps outlets to strategically leverage AI in ways that enhance efficiency, drive sustainability and ensure that their operations and output are legally compliant. It has a particular focus on providing tools and training for independent newsrooms in the Global South, and those working in exile.
We also run a programme to upskill journalists so that they can produce accurate and effective reporting about wider AI issues, especially those related to human rights.
Hear from journalists, media managers and trainers about the tools, safeguards and results they’re seeing come out of our programmes:
Key highlights
independent newsrooms supported.
Our programme has supported a range of newsrooms – from those operating in exile to legacy, investigative and community-based media.
journalists trained.
We have supported journalists in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America to produce trustworthy and impactful reporting on AI in these regions.
From our newsroom programme:
Before the start of the programme, each newsroom completes our bespoke AI readiness assessment, from which we tailor their AI adoption journey.
Over the course of the programme, which typically runs over three months, we support newsrooms to develop tailored AI adoption strategies, policies and guidelines.
We also work with newsrooms to design and implement AI-powered tools to optimise workflows and address specific challenges. Recent examples from participating outlets in different countries include:
Tools to translate podcasts, generate imagery and automate editorial processes.
Fact-checking and safeguarding tools that identify and filter AI-manipulated content.
Tools to assist with proofreading, suggest headlines and package investigative content into multimedia formats.
Software to customise news tones and formats, generate social media content and schedule publishing.
Tool to assist editors in creating meta titles and social media copy, integrated into an existing custom-made CMS.
From our journalist programme:
We enhance journalists’ abilities to report on AI through training, mentoring, story grants and improving networks with key stakeholders in their countries, including civil society organisations.
Examples of impactful reporting that have been enabled by our programme include:
- Raising awareness of technology-facilitated gender-based violence in Tanzania and its impact on women’s participation in politics. Following the publication of this article, the journalist was offered the role of ‘specialised reporter on AI’ at the South African news outlet The Citizen.
- Exposing how Zimbabwe’s aid algorithm excluded millions of eligible beneficiaries. The article helped to prompt a broader inquiry into government aid spending and has won two awards: the Best Written News Award at the Amnesty International Zimbabwe Media Awards and the Anti-Corruption Story of the Year at the National Journalism and Media Awards, organised by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists.
It was beneficial to delve deeper into and understand international, regional, and local AI legislation. As a journalist, I think it’s very important to be aware of the regulations and how we can influence reforms.
The opportunity to be in contact with people who work with AI from different areas allowed me to broaden my vision of its uses and contributions to journalism and human rights advocacy.
The opportunities we’ve been exposed to have been invaluable. We’ve managed to publish high-quality content and streamline mundane tasks.
I learnt that while exploring these tools is exciting, it’s equally important to keep ethics in mind, making sure AI is used responsibly, fairly, and in ways that truly benefit people.
If you don’t get on board with AI now as a newsroom, you’re going to be left behind.
How our programmes are funded
Different programme cohorts are funded by different donors. For example, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation has funded programmes for newsrooms and journalists across Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, while Microsoft has supported outlets in South Africa.
To find out more about supporting this programme, please get in touch.
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