JournalismAI Skills Lab

Going beyond basic prompt engineering

The 2025 JournalismAI Skills Lab is a 12-week, free, virtual programme designed for professionals to learn how to practically implement LLMs and GenAI in their work and adopt AI technologies in their daily newsroom context. The programme helps individuals upskill and equips them to develop their own GenAI-based tools, prototypes, or proofs-of-concept. The ultimate outcome is to deepen first hand knowledge of how GenAI systems work and to enable substantial contributions to interdisciplinary projects in the newsroom.

It is aimed at all individuals who work at the intersection of journalism and technology, including all editorial and product staff.

What can participants look forward to?

  • Learning from a curriculum co-designed with a newsroom data scientist

  • Hands-on lessons in creating journalistic proofs-of-concept using GenAI technologies

  • ‘Lecture’ and ‘Lab’ learning components, with a great degree of emphasis on hands-on experience

  • Financial awards, at the end of the programme, to two individuals with the most promising outcomes

Selected candidates will build GenAI-based proofs-of-concept/prototypes based primarily on two tracks:

  • AI to improve storytelling/reporting

  • AI to improve workflows

APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.

Timeline

Eligibility

    • We accept applications from all over the world

    • Candidates with at least some knowledge* of how AI systems are being used in journalism including but not limited to data journalists, reporters, editors, visual editors, copyeditors, product professionals etc.

    • Ideal candidates possess basic arithmetic and good numeracy skills to excel in the programme**

    • Ideal candidates have some knowledge and experience with Python**

    * By "some knowledge," we mean that you should already understand what AI is and how it is currently being applied in newsrooms. This programme builds on that foundation and is best suited for those who are familiar with these concepts. If you’re just starting out, we recommend exploring introductory resources to gain the most from future opportunities.

    **In the absence of existing numeracy and Python skills, you are still welcome to apply. We recommend such candidates take the following courses to ensure that all participants begin the programme on a uniform footing:

    • Candidates who are already proficient in using AI technologies and looking to upgrade or enhance existing prototypes/tools

    • Independent journalists not affiliated with a news organisation 

    • Letter of support from your news organisation to dedicate time to the course

    • Stable internet connectivity

    • Prior knowledge of Python or the willingness to learn by the time the course commences

    • Participants must be able to commit about 7 hours a week to the programme during the course period

Instructors

Pedro Henriques

Pedro Henriques is Co-founder and CTO of The Newsroom, leading work on Responsible and Explainable AI for Journalism, supported by Google.org, Horizon Europe, and others. Formerly a team lead for LinkedIn’s global Data Science and AI team, he blends strong academic credentials (University of Porto, HEC Paris, CEMS) with hands-on data and AI expertise. As an AI educator he has trained over 500 media professionals across Europe. His work developing AI for journalism earned recognition among Europe's top 15 Social Entrepreneurs by EIB.

Jenny Romano

Jenny Romano is Co-founder and CEO of The Newsroom, developing AI for journalism and information provenance with backing by Google.org/Inco and Horizon Europe. With a background at Google and Salesforce, and education from Bocconi, HEC Paris, and CEMS, she combines tech and business expertise. An AI educator in journalism, she’s been named one of the 33 Most Influential Women in AI, a top 15 Social Entrepreneur by the EIB, and recipient of the She Shapes AI Award for AI & Media.

Apply Now

Please submit your application in English using the provided online form. Contact us if you have any concerns about accessing the application or providing responses in English.

For preparation only, please find in this Google Doc all the questions of the form below. You can make a copy of the document. The Google Doc is not needed for the application, it is just a resource to help you prepare to fill the form below.

APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.

FAQs

  • We welcome candidates from all over the world. The programme is designed to empower those working in bridge roles, such as product and editorial staff, to gain hands-on skills in using LLMs and GenAI to build proofs-of-concept and prototypes/tools.

  • Unfortunately, we are not accepting applications from independent journalists at the moment.

  • The programme is fully virtual and divided across 12 weeks. During this time, you will receive lessons from two experienced instructors on using LLMs and GenAI to develop a prototype/tool/analysis.

  • The curriculum was co-developed with Juan Ginzo, a data scientist and JournalismAI alum, who is also the AI and Data Science Manager at News UK. As for what you’ll learn, it will go beyond basic prompt engineering. Modules include lessons about advanced prompt engineering, decoding frameworks, application design etc. The exact syllabus of the course is visible to selected candidates.

  • The programme is free to all selected candidates thanks to the support of the Google News Initiative. 

  • Yes. We will provide all selected candidates with financial support to purchase the necessary technology, software, and tools that may be required to complete their Skills Lab projects.

  • You are welcome to apply. However, selection for the programme is contingent on completing a pre-requisite Python course. This is to ensure that all participants have a near-uniform starting point and understanding of the course. The Python courses you can choose to learn from include:

  • Yes, this is the core course component. 

  • The co-lead instructors for the programme are Jenny Romano and Pedro Henriques from thenewsroom.ai. 

    Pedro Henriques is Co-founder and CTO of The Newsroom, leading work on Responsible and Explainable AI for Journalism, supported by Google.org, Horizon Europe, and others. Formerly a team lead for LinkedIn’s global Data Science and AI team, he blends strong academic credentials (University of Porto, HEC Paris, CEMS) with hands-on data and AI expertise. As an AI educator he has trained over 500 media professionals across Europe. His work developing AI for journalism earned recognition among Europe's top 15 Social Entrepreneurs by EIB. 

    Jenny Romano is Co-founder and CEO of The Newsroom, developing AI for journalism and information provenance with backing by Google.org/Inco and Horizon Europe. With a background at Google and Salesforce, and education from Bocconi, HEC Paris, and CEMS, she combines tech and business expertise. An AI educator in journalism, she’s been named one of the 33 Most Influential Women in AI, a top 15 Social Entrepreneur by the EIB, and recipient of the She Shapes AI Award for AI & Media.

  • The course aims at empowering candidates to ultimately build their own GenAI-based tools. It also aims to equip you to contribute meaningfully to interdisciplinary newsroom AI projects.

  • We estimate that participants will have to dedicate about 7 hours a week to the programme inclusive of lessons and practical components.

  • There is a certificate for participation which is contingent upon an attendance of 80%. Two candidates with the most promising outcomes will also receive financial awards to continue working and experimenting with their POC.

The JournalismAI Skills Lab is organised by the JournalismAI team at Polis – the journalism think-tank at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and it is  supported by the Google News Initiative.