Newsletter

Solution Set: What works best for AI experimentation in newsrooms

July 23, 2026

Headshots of Chase Davis and Sonali Verma on a white background with orange lattice. — Sonali Verma and Chase Davis.

When it comes to artificial intelligence in newsrooms, it’s easy to get caught up in the technology, the process, and the pitfalls. Those are important, but it’s also just as important to consider the use cases and the people who are using it. That’s one of the biggest takeaways from the Lenfest AI Collaborative and Fellowship launched nearly two years ago with support from OpenAI and Microsoft. The program embedded AI fellows inside 11 newsrooms across the country, focusing on practical problems tied to workflows, revenue, and audience growth.

To help capture and spread what’s been learned, the Institute recently brought on Chase Davis as technical lead and Sonali Verma as amplification lead for the Fellowship. The clearest lesson from the program’s first couple of years is that AI adoption works best when it’s driven by the people actually doing the work, not imposed from above.

Verma noted that everyone in the news business is experimenting with AI right now, and much of that work involves duplicated effort — which is exactly the redundancy the Collaborative is trying to eliminate by having Fellows document not just their finished tools but the missteps and decisions along the way. Davis, who experienced the Fellowship firsthand while leading a team at the Minnesota Star Tribune, described it as a rare case of journalism trying to “play offense” with a new technology instead of reacting to it after the fact.

A few of the Fellows’ projects that have come out of the program:

Seattle Times (Rajesh Barade): An AI-powered workflow that transcribes and analyzes City Council video recordings.
ProPublica (Dana Chiueh): Local LLMs to process sensitive tips securely, plus an internal search engine to support investigations.
Philadelphia Inquirer (Kevin Hoffman): “Dewey,” a digital-librarian tool enabling natural-language search across a half-century of archives.
Baltimore Banner (Peter Rasmussen): An AI system designed to assess the newsworthiness of state and local data.

“It’s not the technology that is the problem,” Verma said. “Often it’s the culture. It’s whether people feel empowered, supported, and encouraged to go out and experiment with it and then to scale it. The organizations making the most progress are thinking about how to bring people along. They’re investing in training, creating ways for people to share feedback, and putting clear AI policies and guidelines in place. That gives people confidence to experiment because they understand what’s acceptable and where the guardrails are.”

Bonus: Sign up for a new Institute newsletter, Context Window, to get more lessons from the AI fellowship program in your inbox.

🧠 Brain food: insights from the field

Trove of LION audit data reveals what a ‘sustaining’ news business looks like in 2026 by Chloe Kizer at LION Publishers

“Sustaining news businesses have built foundational and mission-critical operational and financial infrastructure. They have reached a level of viability across the three pillars of sustainability and are often working to scale or establish clear succession plans…This update in the stages doesn’t mean that news organizations are moving backward if they go down a stage in an updated Audit. Instead, they now have even better data that can help busy publishers identify where an investment of time, resources, and energy could have the most significant impact on their business.”

‘What is our impact?’: Takeaways from INN Days, Part 2 from INN

“Across INN Days sessions, advice coalesced into four main themes: focus on what the audience needs and endeavor to meet those needs; make efforts to draw in younger people who value information but not traditional media; look for ways to meet people where they are, not just your vehicles; guide community members to your content as a service.”

How to tell immigration stories that inform, empower, and mobilize communities from The Pivot Fund

“Community publishers aren’t just documenting arrests and detentions — their reporting informs civic participation and helps communities respond in real time to critical decisions shaping their future… As immigration enforcement continues to shape communities across the country, the work of 285 South, Mississippi Free Press, and the Kansas City Defender offers an important reminder: The strongest community journalism doesn’t just tell people what’s happening — it helps communities navigate what comes next.”

Partnering to strengthen communities: Donor-advised funds, community foundations, and local newsrooms by Liz White at the LMA

“Philanthropy is becoming a significant revenue stream for newsroom sustainability, and [donor-advised funds] DAFs — which let donors support journalism through community foundations or fiscal sponsors — can help broaden support…By building partnerships with community foundations, educating donors, and demonstrating journalism’s impact on civic life, newsrooms can incorporate DAF gifts as an important piece of their philanthropic funding strategy.”

Grants & Fellowships: bring in the 💰

Grants

Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice Grants from IMWF – The International Women’s Media Foundation is providing grants to support reporting by women and non-binary journalists focused on reproductive rights in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. These grants support reporting of untold stories surrounding issues that impact people’s daily lives in the region. Apply by August 2.
SPJ Foundation Grants – The SPJ Foundation is now accepting grant proposals for projects that strengthen journalism and protect the public’s right to know. This cycle, priority will be given to initiatives that advocate for journalists and journalism, defend press freedom, promote media literacy, and help build public trust in credible news. Apply by August 13.
California Civic Media Program – Grants of up to $250,000 for California-based newsrooms, determined by a pro rata formula based on journalist headcount and a needs-based set-aside to adjust awards for organizations whose impact exceeds what headcount alone reflects. Organizations with less than one full time employee can still apply for the program and are eligible for up to $40,000 in funding through the needs-based adjustment. Apply by August 21.
Ian Parry Photojournalism Grants – The program is an international photographic competition for young photographers who are 24 years of age or under, or anyone who is studying in a full-time photographic course. Recipients receive £10,000 towards their chosen project, along with a loan of Canon equipment and publication of images by The Guardian. Apply by August 31.
Shackelford Shines Stipend from the Tiffany Shackelford Foundation – Up to 10 stipends each year to support individuals in the journalism community. These stipends are aimed at helping professionals attend events and programs to enhance their skills as innovative editors, reporters, technologists, or similar roles. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Local News Reporting Grants from Pulitzer Center – You decide what underreported stories your community needs to engage with, and Pulitzer Center will support that reporting and champion it, including creating educational materials and organizing events to expand the reach of your stories and the conversation about them. The Center values data, investigative, and accountability journalism projects that tackle systemic issues and hold to account powerful local figures. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Collaborative Operating Models Program from the Public Media Bridge Fund – The first open call under the Sustainability Program focuses on advancing collaborative operating models across the public media system. The purpose of this initiative is to implement new operating and collaborative structures that strengthen the long-term sustainability of public media organizations. Investments up to $500,000 include grants, low-interest loans, and advisory services. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Special opportunity

Reporting on Families Impacted by Incarceration from Poynter, August 4 to October 6 – Learn how to report on the hidden impact of incarceration on children, parents, guardians, and communities. Attend three free webinars and become eligible to apply for reporting grants worth up to $10,000. Hear from formerly incarcerated people and expert journalists, and learn trauma-informed interviewing and ethical reporting techniques.

Fellowships

The Future of Work Reporting Fellowship from New America – The fellowship supports early- and mid-career journalists producing in-depth reporting that examines how education, workforce development, and the innovation economy converge — and what that means for people’s lives and livelihoods. The fellowship includes a $5,000 stipend, coaching, and an expense budget. Apply by July 24.
Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship from IRE – Over the course of the year, fellows receive IRE training, mentorship, data services, and support — with the goal of producing an investigative reporting project to help their community. The program also provides an opportunity for the fellow’s news outlet to benefit from their investigative skill-building. Apply by September 1.
Karsh Journalism Fellowship – The fellowship offers specialized training in Jewish issues to professional journalists and recent journalism school graduates. Fellows participate in three intensive all-expense paid retreats — in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. — engaging with leading journalists, scholars, policymakers, and innovators across arts, media, and business. Fellows receive a $4,000 stipend and all travel expenses paid. Apply by September 1.
Brain Health Reporting Fellowship from Poynter – A year-long fellowship designed to help journalists strengthen their reporting on brain health, neuroscience, and scientific research. It will bring together 30 journalists from across the country for advanced training, personalized coaching, and direct access to leading journalists, researchers, and medical experts. The program begins in December 2026 with a three-day convening at Poynter’s campus followed by monthly virtual workshops and individualized coaching throughout 2027. Fellows receive a $3,000 stipend. Apply by September 22.

Hans Arnhold Center in Berlin (Photo by Stefan Müller)

Berlin Prize Fellowship from the American Academy in Berlin – The Academy welcomes applications from a broad range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, law, journalism, and various areas of public policy. They encourage projects that address pressing issues of the day, such as democracy, security, technology and society (especially AI). Fellows receive monthly stipends of $5000, roundtrip airfare, and accommodation at or near the Hans Arnhold Center. Apply by September 25.

Training: upskill FTW 🎓

Inside Houston’s creator economy: What successful creator/newsroom partnerships look like from The Lenfest Audience Community, July 30 at 2 pm ET – Houston-based creator Shawn Singh (@ShawnTheFoodSheep) and Jennifer Chang from the Houston Chronicle come together for a candid conversation on how the media and creator ecosystems are evolving. Shawn will share how he’s building engaging food content and experimenting with new ways to connect with audiences, while Jennifer will discuss how traditional newsrooms are thinking about creators, audience engagement, and the challenge of innovating without alienating editorial staff.

From SEO to AEO and beyond: Building resilient newsrooms in the AI era from Indiegraf, July 30 at 2 pm ET – With AI answers on the rise and search traffic declining, news organizations can’t simply replace search engine optimization (SEO) with answer engine optimization (AEO). Instead, publishers need to strengthen their foundations by diversifying traffic and revenue sources while building deeper connections with their audiences. Laura Davis will share strategies that every news publisher should be investing in now.
Leading AI in the newsroom from Poynter, October 26 to December 3 -Learn how to lead AI initiatives with confidence, build trust, drive adoption, and guide your newsroom through change while upholding journalistic values. The program includes a free two-day workshop in Los Angeles plus four live virtual sessions. Designed for journalists leading AI adoption in small and medium-sized newsrooms. Apply by August 14.
Beat Academy: Reporting the 2030 Census from Poynter, August 26 – Prepare your reporting for the 2030 Census with expert guidance on policy changes, methodology, and local story opportunities. See how decisions taken today could systematically shape Census outcomes in 2030. Understand the debate around Census practices and historic problems with undercounts. Identify story opportunities tied to census policy changes.
Bringing readers back: Real-world tactics for combating news fatigue from ONA, September 2 at noon ET – Timely case studies from the Globe and Mail’s Angela Pacienza and consultant Jennifer Kho will address news avoidance in an era of unending content, offering attendees tactics and strategies to make their offerings more friendly and relatable, including creating entire new beats, broadening the scope of alerts, and re-thinking what makes an audience-first story mix.
Understanding U.S. indie info providers from CNTI and ONA, September 10 at noon ET – Drawing on in-depth interviews with 26 indie info providers, the discussion will focus on two of the most actionable areas: how indie info providers approach multiplatform distribution and audience reach, and how they’re working — often struggling — to build sustainable revenue.
Covering Child Welfare: A Journalist’s Guide to Impactful Reporting from Poynter, September 3 to November 12 – Build a stronger child welfare reporting beat with free expert-led training, practical tools, and newsroom-tested strategies. Identify meaningful story opportunities within child welfare systems, develop trusted sources and stronger community connections, and distinguish poverty from neglect and better understand how child welfare systems operate. Four participating newsrooms will receive $10,000 grants. Apply by July 31.
The Business of Journalism in the Age of AI from the University of Maryland , Monthly webinar series through December – Aims to teach news leaders how to reinvent themselves to best serve the public. In this webinar series, experts from the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism and Robert H. Smith School of Business team up with industry leaders to offer their unique perspectives on how the news industry must evolve to thrive in the age of AI.

Support: Get the help you need ☎️

Emergency Mode for News from OpenNews, Newspack, and NC Local – The resource equips local journalists and their newsrooms with the tools they need to respond to climate disasters. With a disaster reporting action pack, software, and a learning community, Emergency Mode is designed to help journalists act nimbly and creatively to serve their communities when the unexpected happens.
Trusting News AI worksheet: Create an AI use policy – This worksheet is designed to encourage newsrooms to more quickly get on the record about if and how they use AI, without waiting months to share this information publicly with their community. If creating a new policy is a daunting task for you, this worksheet will suggest other ways to share your approach.
Local News Research Hub from Rebuild Local News and Syracuse University – Access a curated collection of studies that show how the decline of local news affects communities and the solutions emerging across the country. Building on Democracy Fund’s literature review, the Hub collates and regularly updates the evidence base to guide more targeted investments and policy interventions that support the local news ecosystem.
The Civic Partnerships Playbook from El Tímpano – The playbook walks newsroom leaders through the full arc of building a civic partnerships program: assessing whether the model fits their outlet, developing a strategy, setting prices, finding and pitching partners, and evaluating results. It addresses questions about the difference between civic partnerships and advertising, and the risks of working with government agencies.
The Lenfest Expert Network from The Lenfest Institute – The Expert Network connects local news organizations with experienced consultants who provide pro bono hands-on support to strengthen sustainability, audience engagement, and digital transformation for short-term consulting engagements lasting one to six months. Interested in joining an upcoming consulting round? Sign up for office hours here.

Events: learn and network 📅

National Association of Black Journalists Conference, August 12–16 in Atlanta. Attendees go to hundreds of training sessions, workshops, entertainment, and networking events. Among thousands of attendees, everyone leaves with new professional contacts, inspired to enhance the journalism industry.
Local Media Fest from Local Media Association, August 18–20 in Chicago. The event is focused on revenue growth, digital innovation, and sustainability for local news organizations.
AI x Visual Journalism Forum from Hacks/Hackers, August 25-26 in Phoenix – Join Hacks/Hackers and Arizona State University’s Narrative and Emerging Media program for a full day of hands-on learning with visual journalists, technologists, artists, and ethics experts.
Independent News Sustainability Summit from LION Publishers, September 9–11 in San Diego. Brings together local independent online news leaders to share knowledge, hard-won lessons, and actionable advice on running a sustainable news business.
NLGJA’s National Convention, September 10–13 in San Francisco. The country’s leading event for LGBTQ+ journalists, media professionals, students, and educators. The community spans every corner of the industry, from broadcast and print to digital and radio.
International Symposium on Journalism (ISOJ), September 17-18 in Austin – A global gathering that convenes leading journalists, media executives, and scholars to explore emerging innovations and challenges shaping the field.
Local News Camp from Blue Engine Collaborative, October 14–16 in Durham, NC. The event is for leaders who get things done: publishers, editors, audience directors, product leaders, and analytics mavens. Attendance is capped to preserve depth, connection, and meaningful exchange.

Ask a Bot 🤖

Prompt: In one short paragraph, explain what an ideal AI public policy would be for a local newsroom.

Answer via ChatGPT: An ideal AI public policy for a local newsroom should emphasize transparency, accuracy, accountability, and human oversight. It should clearly explain how AI may be used — for example, to assist with research, transcription, translation, or editing — while stating that journalists remain responsible for all published content and that AI-generated material is reviewed and verified before publication. The policy should also commit to using AI in ways that strengthen, rather than replace, ethical local journalism and public trust.

Human analysis: Yes to transparency, accuracy, and human oversight. Verifying all AI-generated material is important for newsrooms so they don’t over-rely on machine learning that can go off the rails. Journalists should also check the sources that the AI chatbot used to make sure they are up-to-date and factual. (Here’s a great example of an AI policy from La Verne Daily News.)