About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
The JournalismAI Skills Lab 2026 has officially opened applications for its highly anticipated virtual training programme aimed at equipping journalism professionals with practical artificial intelligence skills. The 14-week programme is designed to help newsroom professionals move beyond basic prompt engineering and gain hands-on experience in implementing Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI, and AI agents within journalism workflows.
The free programme targets professionals working at the intersection of journalism and technology, including editorial teams, product managers, developers, reporters, visual editors, and newsroom innovators seeking to build AI-powered tools and solutions.
A Global Programme Focused on AI Innovation in Journalism
The JournalismAI Skills Lab is structured as a live, instructor-led virtual programme that combines strategic thinking workshops with practical technical training. Participants are expected to dedicate approximately seven hours weekly to lectures, labs, and self-paced learning activities.
For the 2026 edition, JournalismAI will host two regional cohorts:
15 participants from Africa, Europe, and the Americas
10 participants from Asia-Pacific and the Middle East
The programme begins with workshops on product development and strategic thinking led by industry expert Sheena Bhalla, Founder of Module Xero. This is followed by 12 weeks of intensive instruction covering AI technologies, tool development, and practical newsroom applications.
Programme Designed for Hands-On Learning
Unlike theoretical AI courses, the Skills Lab focuses heavily on practical implementation. Participants will work on building their own AI-powered prototypes, proofs-of-concept, and newsroom tools throughout the programme.
Key learning outcomes include:
Understanding how Generative AI and LLMs function in journalism
Developing newsroom-focused AI tools and workflows
Building AI prototypes and automation systems
Applying AI responsibly and effectively in editorial environments
Collaborating on interdisciplinary newsroom technology projects
The programme curriculum was co-designed by product leaders and data scientists to ensure participants gain real-world, applicable skills.
Industry Experts Leading the Training
The 2026 Skills Lab features a distinguished team of AI and journalism experts.
Pedro Henriques, Co-founder and CTO of The Newsroom, will lead the Africa, Europe, and the Americas cohort alongside Jenny Romano. Henriques previously led LinkedIn’s global Data Science and AI team and has trained more than 500 media professionals across Europe.
Jenny Romano, Co-founder and CEO of The Newsroom, brings extensive experience from Google and Salesforce. She has been recognised among the “33 Most Influential Women in AI” and continues to lead innovation in AI for journalism and information verification.
The Asia-Pacific and Middle East cohort will be led by Dr. Swapneel Mehta, co-founder of SimPPL. His work focuses on transparency within the social internet and investigating online influence operations. His projects have supported journalism investigations across multiple countries and informed platform moderation efforts by major tech companies.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is intended for journalism professionals who already possess a foundational understanding of AI in newsroom environments.
Ideal applicants include:
Data journalists
Editors and reporters
Product professionals
Visual editors
Copyeditors
Media technologists
Candidates are encouraged to have:
Basic arithmetic and numeracy skills
Some familiarity with Python programming
Knowledge of how AI is currently being used in journalism
However, applicants without Python experience are still welcome to apply. JournalismAI recommends preparatory courses such as:
Codecademy
Google’s Crash Course on Python
Learn Python
Participants without prior coding experience may be required to complete foundational training before the course begins.
Programme Requirements and Commitment
To participate successfully in the JournalismAI Skills Lab, applicants must meet several prerequisites, including:
Stable internet access
Commitment of approximately seven hours weekly
Support from their news organisation
Willingness to learn Python if not already proficient
Applicants must also submit a letter of support from their employer confirming their availability for the programme duration.
Testimonials Highlight Impact of Previous Cohorts
Former participants have praised the programme for transforming their understanding of AI in journalism and helping them lead innovation within their organisations.
Thomas Gröbner, Head of the Visual Desk and Development Editor at SZ Germany, described the programme as “the gold standard” for AI in the newsroom.
Meera K from Citizen Matters in India noted that the programme provided valuable insight into AI technologies and practical newsroom applications while helping participants develop working prototypes.
Participants from non-technical backgrounds also highlighted the accessibility of the programme, praising instructors for simplifying complex AI concepts into understandable and practical lessons.
Information Sessions Scheduled Before Deadline
JournalismAI will host multiple virtual information sessions for interested applicants ahead of the application deadline.
Sessions are scheduled for:
27 May 2026
2 June 2026
10 June 2026
These sessions will provide deeper insight into the curriculum, expectations, and programme outcomes.
Application Deadline and Organisers
Applications for the JournalismAI Skills Lab 2026 are currently open and must be submitted in English before 21 June 2026 at 11:59 PM GMT.
The programme is organised by JournalismAI at Polis, the journalism think tank of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), with support from the Google News Initiative.
Economics
The initiative continues to play a major role in preparing journalists and newsroom professionals for the evolving future of AI-powered media and digital storytelling.
How to apply