The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, an organization dedicated to advancing local news for the future, has unveiled a significant collaboration with OpenAI and Microsoft Corporation. Announced on Tuesday, this initiative is set to bolster local journalism by leveraging artificial intelligence for enhanced business sustainability and innovation through the Lenfest Institute AI Collaborative and Fellowship program.
In this initial funding phase, Chicago Public Media, Newsday (based in Long Island, NY), The Minnesota Star Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Seattle Times will each receive grants to appoint a two-year AI fellow. These fellows will spearhead projects primarily aimed at bolstering business sustainability and integrating AI technologies within their respective organizations.
Additionally, the fellowship will grant these publications OpenAI and Microsoft Azure credits, supporting their efforts to experiment and develop tools tailored for local journalism. Under this program, participating news organizations will collaboratively engage with each other and the wider news sector. They will share insights, product innovations, case studies, and vital technical information to facilitate the replication of their efforts in other newsrooms.
