17 Webinars this week about AI, Journalism, & Media
/Tue, Aug 11 - ChatGPT 201 For Midterms - Virtual Session
What: The goal is simple: leave with practical ways to use ChatGPT in the reporting and research you already do. We’ll cover source-first workflows, political reporting use cases, stronger prompting, and techniques for turning dense material into clear, structured briefs. You’ll also see how ChatGPT Work, agents, skills, and custom apps can turn a useful workflow into a repeatable newsroom tool. You’ll leave with examples you can adapt and build yourself—no technical background required.
Who: Evan Hirsch, OpenAI for News, OpenAI; Mark Murray Editorial Director, OpenAI.
When: 12 pm Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: OpenAI Academy
Tue, Aug 11 - The exponential new demand of AI for power
Who: Clinton A. Vince Chair, U.S. Energy Practice and Co-Chair, Global Transportation and Infrastructure, Dentons.
When: 2 pm Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: USC Center on Communication Leadership and Policy's Washington Programs
Tue, Aug 11 - AI Policy in the Newsroom
What: We will discuss how and how often to undertake an AI policy revision and what to consider in that process. Matt leads his organization's AI Committee, developing a policy that will help guide journalists in their ethical use of artificial intelligence tools.
Who: Cynthia Tu, Data Reporter & News Technology Specialist at Sahan Journal, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to reporting for immigrants and communities of color in Minnesota; Matt DeFour, State Bureau Chief for Wisconsin Watch, the state's oldest nonprofit investigative and community forward newsroom.
When: 3 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Online News Association
Tue, Aug 11 - How to Report on Labor and Human Rights
What: This session centers on the human dimension of ocean industries, focusing on labor conditions, forced labor risks, and human rights violations in fisheries and maritime sectors. Journalists will learn how recruitment systems work, how abuse occurs across borders, and how to ethically report on vulnerable workers. The webinar will also cover sourcing strategies, including how to reach and interview seafarers safely.
Who: Federico Acosta Rainis, Pulitzer Center Staff; Katie McQue ORN Fellow
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Pulitzer Center
Wed, Aug 12 - Intro to AI for Small Businesses
What: A non-technical introduction to generative AI technology, tips for implementing AI effectively in your business, some great advice about managing the risks and ethical concerns involved, and will lead you a hands-on exercise using a generative AI tool. No matter what your level of technical know-how is, you’ll leave this session informed, confident and aware of both the risks and the benefits of this emerging technology.
Who: Isabel Krome, Temple Small Business Development Center.
When: 8:30 am
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Small Business Development Center, Temple University
Wed, Aug 12 - How to Spread Solutions Journalism on Social Media, Part 2
What: This is part two of a webinar series on creating compelling social-first content that expands the reach and impact of your solutions reporting.
Who: Jonathan Woodward, a multimedia producer and creative strategist who previously served as writer, producer and co-host of SJN’s Tell Me Something Good partnership with Google Creative Labs.
When: 11 am Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Solutions Journalism
Wed, Aug 12 - The Craft of Journalism with Ernie Pyle
What: During this session, you’ll gain insight on how you can write and share emotional human interest stories that catch readers’ attention and create lasting impact.
Who: This workshop led by the foundation dedicated to preserving the legacy of Pulitzer-winning war correspondent Ernie Pyle.
When: 11 am Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Military Veterans in Journalism
Wed, Aug 12 - In the Era of AI – How Can You Keep Your Agency Safe
What: Learn how agencies are building resilient cybersecurity programs that can adapt to the evolving threat landscape. Experts will discuss how agencies are strengthening defenses, improving visibility, and managing cyber risk at scale.
Who: Marina Kelly, Chief Information Security Officer, City of Raleigh, Information Technology; Zach Oxman, Area Vice President, State, Local, and Education, U.S. Public Sector, Abnormal AI; Francisco Ramirez, Chief Architect, State and Local Government, Red Hat; Egon Rinderer, Senior Vice President, Federal & Enterprise Growth, NinjaOne.
When: 2 pm Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: GovLoop
Wed, Aug 12 - We Invested in AI. Now What?
What: Join this session to learn: Why AI adoption stalls after the rollout, and why more training won't fix; The structural difference between access and adoption; What the organizations seeing real returns from AI did differently; How to measure what actually matters.
Who: Markus Bernhardt, Ph.D. AI Strategist; Joe Leslie VP of Global AI Learning and Development, Golin.
When: 2 pm Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Training Magazine Network
Wed, Aug 12 - Accelerating Scientific Discovery: AI Case Studies in Research
What: How research leaders are using AI and high-performance computing to accelerate discovery. From literature review to complex simulation to publication, AI is reshaping every stage of scholarship. You’ll learn how peer institutions are prioritizing AI and HPC investment amid tight budgets, and the impact AI has on diverse research endeavors.
Who: Alexander C. Kafka, Senior Editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education; Jason Cherubini, Executive in Residence of Finance Loyola University Maryland; Reena Mehra, Professor in and Head of Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine University of Washington; Sagar Samtani Director, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, Kelley School of Business Indiana University; Denny Schaedig, Data Engineer, Laboratory for Child Brain Development Washington University; Ryan White, Associate Professor, Mathematics and Systems Engineering Florida Institute of Technology.
When: 2 pm Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Chronicle of Higher Ed
Wed, Aug 12 - Writing That Breaks the Rules: 10 Craft “Laws” You Can Defy
What: We will start from the beginning and look at how to create a newsletter for anyone eager to begin. We’ll address important and often-overlooked areas like the Substack name, About section, and style. We’ll also look at common questions: How often should you post? How long should your posts be? What should you write about (and what if you change your mind)? How do you sustain momentum beyond the first few months? Finally, we’ll discuss how to gain readers and continue growing your audience over time.
Who: Becky Tuch, founder of Lit Mag News.
When: 3 pm
Where: Zoom
Cost: $30
Sponsor: Lit Mag News
Thu, Aug 13 - The new search journey: How AI is changing online discovery
What: For years, typing a question into a search engine was simply what you did. Now, more people are turning to AI chatbots first, asking a question and getting a direct answer instead of a list of links. But how far has this shift actually gone in Australia, India, Hong Kong and Singapore? Are consumers replacing search engines with AI tools, or just adding them to the mix? And when an AI assistant gives an answer, do people actually believe it?
Who: Fumin Rianto, Research Director, YouGov Australia; Dicky Li, Business Development Manager, YouGov Hong Kong.
When: 2 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: You Gov
Thu, Aug 13 - Media Relations for Mission-Driven Organizations
What: This workshop will demystify the media landscape and help organizations build relationships with journalists, develop effective pitches, and amplify their stories with purpose and clarity.
Who: Laura Herrera, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
When: 11 am, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Chicago Cultural Alliance
Thu, Aug 13 - News Literacy for Every Classroom: An Integrated Approach
What: Just getting started with news literacy or looking for fresh, meaningful ways to weave this essential life skill into your teaching? This edWebinar will help you build a strong foundation for the school year. You’ll discover ways to embed news literacy into your discipline to help students make informed decisions.
Who: Tracee Stanford, Senior Manager of Professional Learning at the News Literacy Project.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: News Literacy Project
Thu, Aug 13 - 4 Mindshifts for Teaching AI Agency
What: How educators can support AI agency among their students—right now. We’ll share relevant resources and four enduring mindshifts that are game changing for classroom conversations about tech.
Who: Dan Be Kim, AI Fellow and Translational Research Designer, Center for Digital Thriving, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Carrie James, Co-Founder and Co-Director, Center for Digital Thriving, and Co-Director, Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
When: 3 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Center for Digital Thriving at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Thu, Aug 13 - SPJ Code of Ethics Listening Session No. 1
What: The first of three listening sessions with the SPJ Code of Ethics revision committee. Learn about the work that has gone into the recommended Code revisions, the revisions being considered and ask your questions. Registration required.
When: 7 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: Society of Professional Journalists
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Fri, Aug 14 - Using AI in innovative ways to reach new audiences
What: Audience engagement through search engines is shrinking. Pros from Merrill College demonstrate new, AI-driven ways to boost engagement.
Who: Stacey Decker Director, Capital News Service Audience Engagement Bureau·University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism; Shuning Lu Assistant Professor of Media, Democracy and Technology·University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
When: 12 pm, Eastern
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Sponsor: University of Maryland