The Online News Association (ONA) will expand the AI in Journalism Initiative, the industry’s go-to resource driving newsrooms’ understanding and adoption of AI tools, thanks to $250,000 in new support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF). PJMF joins Microsoft and the Joyce Foundation as supporters of the initiative.
The grant will supercharge ONA’s ability to guide more newsrooms on AI strategies and implementation. It will empower our staff and network of collaborators to design virtual and in-person programming that quickly evolves to respond to the journalism community’s needs around emerging technology. It will also amplify our efforts to engage a broad range of newsrooms, including journalists and executives from smaller organizations, news startups and under-served communities that otherwise wouldn’t have access to AI training. Since the initiative launched in February, more than 1,600 people have participated in virtual training and collaboration.
“AI technologies are changing so quickly, and it’s a phenomenon that impacts news organizations of all sizes everywhere,” said Meghan Murphy, Director of Programs at ONA. “There are many journalists and newsrooms at risk of missing out on the opportunities because they don’t know what latest developments are most relevant to their work or what skills are most pressing to build now. We look past the hype and zoom in on the practical questions. With this additional support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, we’re excited to create more resources to reach as many people as possible.”
The AI in Journalism Initiative, already a robust resource for learning and community collaboration, will grow with more specialized AI skills training and strategic planning workshops, including but not limited to:
- AI Summit on how leaders can operationalize AI in their newsrooms at the 2024 Online News Association Conference (Sept. 18-21 in Atlanta)
- Expansion of both general and specialized virtual training sessions, supporting participants just getting started with AI as well as those eager to expand their knowledge
- Deep training for specialized groups within the industry
- Convenings for AI-savvy leaders to share experiments, wins and challenges
- A second edition of the AI x Journalism House alongside the SXSW conference, with Hacks/Hackers.
About the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation (PJMF) is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence and data science solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. PJMF works in partnership with public, private and social institutions to drive progress on our most pressing challenges, including digital health, climate change, broad digital access, and data maturity in the social sector.
Support the AI in Journalism Initiative
For 25 years, ONA has shaped the journalism industry’s understanding of emerging technology and provided the essential training, connections and resources for news leaders to drive innovation and sustainability.
The AI in Journalism Initiative is our latest effort to deliver programming that quickly responds to the industry’s needs. Over 1,600 people have signed up for our practical training series on AI uses in areas such as elections reporting, audio and grant writing, and more than 200 ONA members have joined the AI Innovator Collaborative, a group that meets monthly to share ideas and learn from each other. Collaborators on these sessions have included journalism trainers, technology strategists and news business leaders from The Globe and Mail, Hearken, Journalists’ Toolbox, National Press Photographers Association, Newsroom Robots, The New York Times, Poynter Institute, Trusting News and more.
The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation joins the Joyce Foundation and Microsoft in funding the AI in Journalism Initiative. We’re seeking additional funding to continue expanding the initiative and reach even more newsrooms. To explore ways to support the initiative, contact Hanaa Rifaey, Head of Strategic Partnerships, at hanaa@journalists.org. For questions about upcoming events, connect with Meghan Murphy, Director of Programs, at meghan@journalists.org.
Learn more about the AI in Journalism Initiative
