SINGAPORE — WAN-IFRA, the World Association of News Publishers, announced the 16 news media brands selected to participate in the APAC Newsroom AI Catalyst program, sponsored by OpenAI.
This intensive accelerator program is designed to empower newsrooms in the Asia-Pacific region with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The first cohort will begin with a two-day intensive workshop in Singapore, scheduled for November 4-5, 2024. The Newsroom AI Catalyst program is open to 128 newsrooms across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and South Asia. It was launched at the 75th World News Media Congress to help newsrooms leverage AI for impactful and efficient journalism.
The APAC Newsroom AI Catalyst combines expert guidance with hands-on application, equipping participating newsroom leaders with the knowledge and tools to strategically implement and scale AI initiatives. Each media company completing the program will emerge with a prototype and a customized roadmap designed to expand their AI capabilities and enhance operational efficiencies for creating high-quality content.
“The media industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and news organizations must leverage technology to remain relevant and resilient,” said Thomas Jacob, Chief Operating Officer of WAN-IFRA. “AI provides transformative tools for journalism, from automating routine tasks to generating deeper insights and delivering more personalized content to audiences. Embracing AI isn’t just about enhancing efficiency; it empowers newsrooms to focus on high-quality, impactful journalism that can thrive in a digital-first world. Our partnership with OpenAI marks a crucial step in helping the media harness these advancements for long-term sustainability and strengthen public trust,” he added.
Over the next three months, the APAC Newsroom AI Catalyst will feature hybrid training sessions, workshops, and discussions led by WAN-IFRA’s global network of industry experts. This initiative positions participating news brands at the forefront of AI-driven journalism in the region. The structured approach provides participants with tailored support to address specific challenges and explore innovative applications of AI within their operations. OpenAI, the AI research and deployment company behind ChatGPT, is funding and providing technical assistance for the initiative.
“We are pleased to support WAN-IFRA member organizations in exploring AI use cases in their newsrooms and businesses. AI can potentially improve newsrooms’ operations—from enhancing workflows, uncovering new insights, or exploring new ways to deliver information. This program provides media organizations with the tools, training, and support to innovate and thrive in today’s changing media environment,” said David Duxin, media partnerships at OpenAI.
Participating media organisations in the APAC Newsroom AI Catalyst Programme’s first cohort:
Koh Santepheap Media Group, Cambodia
Kompas Daily, Indonesia
Tempo Digital, Indonesia
Star Media Group, Malaysia
The Edge Communications, Malaysia
Inquirer Interactive, Philippines
Newsline.ph, Philippines
Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp, Philippines
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines
Mediacorp, Singapore
SPH Media, Singapore
Joongang Ilbo, South Korea
CommonWealth Magazine, Taiwan
United Daily News, Taiwan
Nhan Dan Newspaper, Vietnam
VnExpress, Vietnam
THE NEWSROOM AI CATALYST. 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.
