JournalismAI Strategy Lab
Africa
NO-COST | 5 Weeks | Virtual | Apply by 29 November at 11:59 PM GMT
AI with purpose and editorial clarity
The JournalismAI Strategy Lab, previously the JournalismAI Academy, is a no-cost, five-week online programme for journalists and media professionals across Africa who want to move beyond experimenting with AI tools and start making informed, deliberate decisions about how AI fits into their journalism and their newsroom.
The programme is designed by the JournalismAI team at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and supported by Google.
When the Academy launched in 2021, the priority was helping newsrooms understand what AI was and what it could do. That work mattered. But the landscape has changed. AI tools are now part of journalists' daily work across the industry, and the questions have shifted: not whether to use AI, but how to use it well, with clarity, purpose, and editorial judgment. The programme has evolved to reflect that shift. The Strategy Lab is built to address today's most pressing questions.
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!
Now open to journalists across Africa. Previous editions of the programme focused on Sub-Saharan Africa. This year, for the first time, we are opening the programme to journalists and media professionals from across the entire continent, from North Africa to Southern Africa, and everywhere in between. We look forward to bringing together a cohort that reflects the diverse realities, challenges, and opportunities facing journalism in Africa.
Each edition brings together a cohort of up to 20 participants from across Africa, creating a focused space for peer learning, shared challenges, and practical work. The programme combines expert-led masterclasses with hands-on workshops and structured peer discussion, all grounded in the realities that participants bring from their own newsrooms.
African newsrooms face questions about AI that are often missing from global conversations, shaped by the languages, resources, and realities of the continent. The Strategy Lab creates space to tackle these questions together, drawing on the experience of peers working in similar conditions across the continent.
The Strategy Lab does not assume technical knowledge. It does not require coding experience. It asks participants to come with curiosity, an openness to challenging their assumptions, and a commitment to take what they learn back to their organisations.
Each edition is shaped by the context of the region it serves.
Info Sessions
We are also holding an information session to provide more details about the programme and any questions apart from those in the FAQs. Sign up to one of the below scheduled slots:
Tuesday, 24 November
How The Programme Works
The Lab runs for over five weeks. The programme includes two sessions per week. Participants are expected to dedicate 5 hours per week to the programme, across the 5 weeks:
Live presentations on Tuesday (2 hours)
Live workshops on Thursday (2 hours)
Assignment to complete individually before the following meeting (~60 minutes)
The programme also includes an introductory week and a closing session, which take place on separate days across the five weeks.
The Five Modules
Each module is designed for participants who may be new to AI, or who have started experimenting but want to think more clearly about what they are doing and why. The learning is cumulative; each week adds a layer, and by the end, participants are equipped to view their own newsroom with fresh eyes and a clearer sense of next steps.
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The starting point is not tools; it is understanding. This module covers what machine learning, large language models, and neural networks actually are; how they produce their outputs; and where their limitations lie. We look at how AI is currently used in journalism: what has worked, what has not, and the questions newsrooms are still working through. The aim is a grounded, honest picture of the landscape.
Module instructor: TBC
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AI is only as useful as the workflow it sits inside. This module covers how to evaluate a tool before adoption, the data AI applications rely on, and the practical questions of integrating AI into editorial workflows. We cover the difference between general-purpose tools and purpose-built newsroom solutions, and how to assess which approach suits a given organisation.
Module instructor: TBC
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GenerativeAI is already part of many newsroom workflows. This module looks at strategic opportunities for innovation in journalism across the news value chain and where overreliance creates risk. Participants work directly with the tools, critically evaluating outputs and knowing when generative AI belongs in a workflow and when it does not.
Module instructor: TBC
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Using AI without clear governance is both a reputational and an editorial risk. This module covers the main risks AI adoption brings to newsrooms: bias in tools and datasets, AI-generated disinformation and synthetic media, audience trust, and the consequences of moving without internal alignment. We look at what responsible AI use looks like in practice and how newsrooms are approaching editorial policies.
Module instructor: TBC
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This module is all about turning ideas into action. Participants work through a structured process to develop concrete proposals for AI applications in their newsroom, projects, workflows, or policies. They also have the chance to create simple prototypes or demonstrations of their concepts, giving a tangible sense of how their ideas could work in practice. By the end, participants leave with practical next steps they can start immediately and a cohort of peers to continue learning with beyond the programme.
Module instructor: TBC
What You Will Get
Participants leave the Strategy Lab with more than a certificate. By the end of the five weeks, you will have:
A grounded understanding of AI in journalism - what it is, what it can do, and where its limits lie
Hands-on experience evaluating and working with AI tools in a structured environment
A concrete action plan or project proposal to take back to your newsroom
A network of peers from your region and beyond, working through the same challenges
Who Is It For?
Journalists and media professionals from newsrooms in AFRICA.
Each edition of the Strategy Lab is open to journalists and media professionals working in newsrooms in the region served by that edition. Fluency in English is required. Each cohort is limited to 20 participants.
We prioritise candidates who can take what they learn back to their organisation, whether as editors, senior journalists, product leads, or founders of small independent outlets. We welcome applications from all career stages, roles, and newsroom sizes.
No coding or technical background is required.
The Strategy Lab is NOT for:
Freelancers; you must be employed by or formally affiliated with a news organisation
Journalists who are not fluent in English
Journalists based outside of Africa
How do I apply?
☑️ Applications are submitted via this application form
The application includes questions about your background, your newsroom, and the work you hope to undertake during the programme.
☑️ This is a template for the letter of intent; you are welcome to use it or adapt it.
To submit your application, you will need to upload a letter of organisational commitment from your employer.
The deadline is 29 November 2026 at 11:59 PM GMT.
FAQs
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You must be employed by or formally affiliated with a news organisation in the region served by this edition. Freelancers are not eligible. Fluency in English is required. No technical background or coding experience is needed.
Priority is given to candidates who are in a position to bring what they learn back into their organisation and influence how it approaches AI. This may mean an editor, senior journalist, product lead, or news manager, but we welcome applications from all roles.
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The programme runs over five weeks and requires approximately five hours per week. This includes:
Tuesday: live masterclass (2 hours)
Thursday: live workshop (2 hours)
Weekly individual assignment (~60 minutes)
Participation in all sessions is mandatory. If selected, you will be asked to sign a personal commitment letter. You will also need to provide a letter of commitment from your organisation at the application stage.
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Participants leave the JournalismAI Strategy Lab with more than a certificate. By the end of the five weeks, you will have:
A grounded understanding of AI in journalism - what it is, what it can do, and where its limits lie
Hands-on experience evaluating and working with AI tools in a structured environment
A concrete action plan or project proposal to take back to your newsroom
A network of peers from your region and beyond, working through the same challenges
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The JournalismAI Discovery Lab is a self-paced introductory programme, a good starting point if you are new to the topic. The JournalismAI Skills Lab is a 12-week technical programme for journalists who want to build AI tools and have some coding experience. The Strategy Lab sits between the two: designed for practitioners with some familiarity with AI in journalism who want to go deeper, without requiring a technical background.
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Thanks to support from Google, there is no cost for selected participants.
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For questions about the Strategy Lab, contact our Programme Manager, Lwazi Maseko, at lwazi@journalismai.info
Testimonials
Felicia Cretu, Editorial Fact-Checker, CU SENS Media Project, Republic of Moldova (Central and Eastern Europe 2026 participant)
❝ This program really grounded me. I realized that even small tasks, when you automate them to solve one very specific problem consistently, can take you a long way. You don't need to start with some complex implementation. Along the way, I also picked up a whole list of inspiring examples of how AI can help newsrooms, from the other participants and the trainers alike. ❞
Rosario Romaní Díaz, General Editor, Infopais, Perú (LATAM 2026 participant)
❝ The Strategy Lab allowed me to go from seeing AI as a tool for queries or basic tasks to thinking of it as a strategic ally for strengthening journalism. The experience helped me identify my outlet's main needs and turn them into an execution plan. I leave with tools, clarity, and the conviction that innovation must start from the real problems of each newsroom.❞
Previous Academy participating news organisations:
