Accelerator Programme for Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and South Asia.
The Newsroom AI Catalyst is an accelerator programme open to 128 newsrooms across Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and South Asia. It combines expert guidance with hands-on experience, equipping newsroom stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to drive strategic AI initiatives. On completion, participants will leave the programme with a prototype and a clear roadmap to scale up their artificial intelligence operations in the newsroom.
PROGRAMME OUTLINE
Participating companies will be divided into cohorts. Each cohort will form a three-month “accelerator.” Two accelerator units will be available in each region the programme serves (Europe, Asia Pacific, South Asia and Latin America).
Each accelerator comprises weekly modules, including learning sessions, hands-on workshops, and a prototyping hackathon. The programme will start with an in-person workshop to kick-start the AI prototyping project.
The Catalyst includes ten modules:
- Module 1: The AI News Landscape: Essentials and Opportunities
- Module 2: Use Cases for AI in Journalism
- Module 3: Building an AI Strategy
- Module 4: Data-Driven News Production
- Module 5: AI for Audience Insights and Engagement
- Module 6: AI-Powered Content Generation
- Module 7: Workflow Integration and Change Management
- Module 8: Measuring Success and ROI for AI Initiatives
- Module 9: Monetization and Sustainability with AI
- Module 10: The Future of Journalism with AI
The programme includes bi-weekly coaching, mentoring, and peer-led sessions to support skills and prototype development.
ELIGIBILITY
Participation in the programme is exclusively available to WAN-IFRA members.
Your company must be based in Europe, Asia Pacific, South Asia or Latin America.
➽ Read more about the eligibility criteria.
➽ Find out more about WAN-IFRA membership.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE FIRST ACCELERATOR ARE CLOSED
Europe | Sept-Dec 2024
The first accelerator will be launched in Europe in September 2024, followed by Asia Pacific in November 2024 and Latin America and South Asia in 2025.
The application phase for the first accelerator in Europe is closed! The participants selected for this first accelerator will be announced on 19 July. Applicants not selected by this date may be offered the chance to join one of the next accelerators on the 2025 programme.
IMPORTANT: The first Catalyst program will start the week of September 9th with a two-day in-person workshop in London. This will be followed by online sessions and coaching before the final in-person workshop in November.
RESERVE YOUR SEAT AT THE NEXT ACCELERATORS
Europe, Asia Pacific, South Asia, Latin America | Nov 2024-Nov 2025
The application form for the second Newsroom AI Catalyst accelerator in Asia Pacific will open soon! Latin America and South Asia will follow.
Would you like to sign up or find out more about the programme?
Contact Martin Fröhlich
Director of Digital Revenue Network
WAN-IFRA
martin.froehlich@wan-ifra.org
TIMELINE 2024-2025
2024
June/July: Call for applications in Europe.
July/August: Selection and notification of participants.
August/September: Call for applications in Asia Pacific.
September to November: Completing the first accelerator in Europe.
November: Starting the first accelerator in Asia Pacific.
December: Evaluation and preparation of the next accelerators.
2025
January: Call for applications in South Asia and Latin America and for second accelerator in Europe.
February: Selection and notification of participants.
March to May: Completing the second accelerator in Europe and first in South Asia and Latin America.
June: Call for applications for a second accelerator in Asia Pacific, South Asia and Latin America.
August: Selection and notification of participants.
September to November: Completing the second accelerator in Asia Pacific, South Asia and Latin America.