13 Webinars this week about AI, Journalism & Media

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Mon, May 4 - Strategic AI for Nonprofit Leaders

What: This session isn't about tools. It’s about fixing the decision layer that comes first. You’ll learn how to move from scattered, individual use to a more coordinated, human-led approach grounded in your mission, values, and your team’s real capacity.

Who: Ryann Miller, Founder of Spark & Signal.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: TechSoup

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Tue, May 5 - Open Sesame: Opening the Algorithmic Black Box with Practical Explainability Use Cases

What: This presentation addresses the practical gap between organisational expectations and the technical implementation of explainable AI (XAI). Through two real-world use case scenarios, credit scoring and employee attrition prediction, we demonstrate how state-of-the-art XAI techniques, including SHAP (SHapley Additive Explanations) and LIME (Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations), can be integrated into organisational processes to meet compliance and ethical demands.

Who: Marcus Becker, Assoc. Prof., Digital Transformation & Innovation Management, Management Center Innsbruck; Ana Moya, Lead, WAN-IFRA Data Science Expert Group.

When: 10 am, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: World Association of News Publisher

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Tue, May 5 - Finding opportunities within business journalism and B2B publications

What: This webinar is focused on how journalists can build careers and thrive in business and industry-focused newsrooms. Our panelists will share insights on how their teams operate and what they look for in job applicants and potential colleagues. 

Who: Paul F. Albergo, a journalism educator at American University; Maya Earls, deputy team lead for the Environment and Energy team at Bloomberg Law; Thai Phi Le, senior managing editor at Informa TechTarget.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: National Press Club

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Tue, May 5 - From Vectors to Tensors: Expanding the Possibilities of AI Search

What: Vector embeddings transformed how we build search and retrieval systems, and if you’ve shipped production applications on top of them, you already know what they can do—and may also be starting to discover what they can’t. Vectors are powerful, but they represent a single point in space, while complex search problems involving multiple signals, multimodal data, or nuanced relevance ranking require something more expressive. Tensors extend what’s possible, enabling richer representations, more sophisticated scoring, and retrieval that can reason across dimensions that vector search simply wasn’t built to handle.

Who: Vespa.ai’s Bonnie Chase, Director of Product Marketing; Zohar Nissare-Houssen, Strategic Presales Lead Engineer.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The New Stack

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Tue, May 5 - Skill Lab: Build Your First Workspace Agent

What: Join us for a practical OpenAI Academy session on how to identify, scope, build, test, and scale your first workspace agent for a team workflow. We’ll start with the basics: what agents are, how they work, and how they differ from other ways of using ChatGPT. Then we’ll walk through how to identify a strong workflow, write an “Agent Requirements Doc,” build a first version with tools, skills, and triggers, test and improve the agent, and roll it out safely with permissions, approvals, and feedback loops.

Who: Juliann Igo, GTM, OpenAI.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: OpenAI Academy

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Tue, May 5 - Beyond stress: What journalists should know about burnout

What: You will contribute anonymously to a series of prompts to learn actionable insights for reassessing and repairing your relationships with work. Created specifically for those working within news organizations, this session will help journalists.

Who: Sam Ragland, API’s senior vice president.

When: 1 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: American Press Institute

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Wed, May 6 - Advanced AI Course: Building AI agents to make you a better journalist

What: In this session you will learn to: Understand what AI agents are and see a live demonstration of building one; Explore an example agent she has created, nicknamed; NewsBot Identify realistic ways agents could streamline your reporting and reduce repetitive tasks.

Who: Parvathi Subbiah, Tech Lead, AI Lab at The Economist.

When: 7:30 am

Where: Zoom

Cost: Member: £15; Nonmember: £25

Sponsor: Women in Journalism

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Wed, May 6 - Canva + AI

What: In this tactical Mini Lab, you’ll see how school communicators can use Canva’s AI features to create social graphics, animated posts, and scroll-stopping videos that support enrollment, recruitment, and everyday district storytelling, while maintaining brand consistency and trust.

Who: Kate Crowder, Communications Coordinator, Germantown Municipal School District (Tenn.)

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: National School of Public Relations

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Wed, May 6 - The Missing Layer How Conversational AI Turns Student Reflection into Institutional Intelligence

What: Learn how structured, conversational AI–guided reflection generates continuous, actionable insight into student learning and persistence, without adding new reporting burdens.

Who: Rebecca Thomas Pathways, ePortfolio Director and Associate Teaching Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Bucknell University; Jeffery Yan, Cofounder & CEO, Digication.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: American Association of Colleges and Universities

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Wed, May 6 - How AI Can Improve Colleges’ Communications with Students

What: This webinar features a panel of campus leaders discussing how institutions are using AI and other technology to strengthen student communications and keep humans in the loop.  We’ll also dig into findings from The Chronicle’s national survey of administrators and faculty on AI for student communications, including perceptions of virtual assistants and why some are funding their own AI tools.

Who: Ian Wilhelm, Deputy Managing Editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: The Chronicle of Higher Education

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Thu, May 7 - Codex for everyday work: Take ambitious ideas from start to finish

What: This is a beginner-friendly session on using Codex for real work and everyday tasks. We’ll explain what Codex can help you do in everyday work, and how to start with work you can review, build on, and trust. 

Who: Diana Stegal, Customer Education, OpenAI; Charmaine Pek, AI Deployment, OpenAI; Kelsey Pedersen, Codex, OpenAI.

When: 2 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: OpenAI Academy

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Thu, May 7 - Journalist Workshop: Incorporating science into every story

What: Explore the Science Reporting Navigator to incorporate scientific evidence, perspectives or context into your work, even when on deadline. In this hour-long workshop, participants will spend half an hour learning how to use the Science Reporting Navigator as a reporting tool and half an hour workshopping ideas and stories to turn into successful pitches. 

When: 3 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: New England Newspaper & Press Association

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Fri, May 8 - AI-powered personalization and its risks

What: Experts from Smith School and an industry leader explore the pros and the cons of this revolutionary change.

Who: Balaji Padmanabhan, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Business, University of Maryland; Eaman Jahani, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland; Robert H. Smith School of Business; Robyn Tomlin, Executive Director, American Press Institute.

When: 12 pm, Eastern

Where: Zoom

Cost: Free

Sponsor: University of Maryland

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20 Articles about the Business of Running an AI

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What Happens if Trump Seizes AI Companies – The Atlantic

So, About That AI Bubble Thanks to the rise of Claude Code and other AI agents, revenues are finally catching up to the hype. – The Atlantic

A.I. Spending Sets a Record, With No End in Sight – New York Times 

AI Has Made Memory Chips One of the World’s Most Profitable Products – Wall Street Journal

Google Signs A.I. Deal with the Pentagon – New York Times

Google workers petition CEO to refuse classified AI work with Pentagon – Washington Post 

U.S. OpenAI Sued by Seven Families Over Mass Shooting Suspect’s ChatGPT Use – Wall Street Journal  

DeepMind’s David Silver just raised $1.1B to build an AI that learns without human data – Tech Crunch  

Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman head to court in high-stakes showdown over AI – Associated Press

The Podcast Where You Can Eavesdrop on the A.I. Elite – New York Times  

The AI Splurge Is Costing Big Tech Its Workforce – Wall Street Journal 

DeepSeek’s Sequel Set to Extend China’s Reach in Open-Source A.I. – New York Times

Florida's attorney general announces criminal investigation into OpenAI over shooting – NBC News

Beijing tightens its grip on AI firms that try to shed their Chinese ties – Washington Post

A.I. Start-Ups From Canada and Germany Merge to Take On Silicon Valley – New York Times

Anthropic’s Leaked Code Tests Copyright Challenges in A.I. Era – Wall Street Journal  

Microsoft wants to build the infrastructure behind the AI internet – Axios  

An Investor Dared Him to Quit School. Now He’s Building a $1.5 Billion AI Startup. – Wall Street Journal  

Why AI companies want you to be afraid of them – BBC

The Billionaire Math Geek Who Turned AI Into a Money-Printing Machine – Wall Street Journal

Standalone AI Literacy

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The returns on standalone AI literacy without domain depth are heading to zero. What the economy will actually reward is deep domain expertise with AI embedded in industrial context. A financial analyst building AI-driven models needs to understand finance first. A biotech researcher using AI for drug discovery needs to understand biology first. The hard skills underneath the AI layer, mathematical reasoning, scientific literacy, domain knowledge, take years to develop and will hold their value. -Sofia Fenichell

AI definitions: GPT

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GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) – GPT refers to a LLM (large language model) that first goes through an unsupervised period (no data labeling by humans) followed by a supervised "fine-tuning" phase (some labeling). G is for Generative indicating it will generate new, original text or content. P is for Pretrained referencing the training period when a model will learn patterns and structures in the data it is given. T stands for Transformer, which is the core AI architecture that makes predictions about the output.

More AI definitions

20 Articles from April about AI & Data Science

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AI definitions: Predictive Analytics

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Predictive Analytics - This method of speculating about future events uses past data to make recommendations. Researchers create complex mathematical algorithms in an effort to discover patterns in the data. One doesn't know in advance what data is important. The statistical models created by predictive analytics are designed to discover which of the pieces of data will predict the desired outcome. While correlation is not causation, a cause-and-effect relationship is not needed in order to make predictions. This process is ideal for anticipating, for instance, what a user is most likely to be interested in based on past behavior and user characteristics. However, after gathering this data, data scientists often turn to causal AI to gauge its impact on user behavior. Some people use the terms “predictive analytics” and “predictive AI” interchangeably, while others treat “predictive analytics” as a broader term that includes non-AI methods such as statistical modeling and regression analysis. While predictive analytics focuses on forecasting future outcomes, generative AI focuses on creating new content. This makes predictive analytics useful for applications such as financial forecasting and health diagnosis, while generative AI is an application for content creation, art and design.

More AI definitions

AI ID's Anonymous Writing

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An advanced AI model correctly identified a writer as the author of a 1,000-word scene from an unpublished novel. I tried Claude on the first chapter of a romance novel that I started almost 20 years ago. (It identified me after only) a few seconds.  I fed Claude a different opening chapter from an unpublished science fiction novel I started right before the pandemic. Claude needed only 1,132 words to identify the author. -Megan McArdle writing in The Washington Post

21 Articles about AI & Philosophy

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AI definition: Compression-meaning Tradeoff

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Compression-meaning Tradeoff – The balance between reducing data size (compression) and preserving the original information (meaning). To manage information overload, humans group items into categories. For instance, we think of poodles and bulldogs as dogs. We balance this compression with details that set them apart: size, nose, tails, fur types, etc. On the other hand, LLMs attempt to maintain a balance between compressing information and preserving original meaning in different ways. LLMs use an aggressive compression approach, enabling them to store vast amounts of knowledge. However, it also contributes to unpredictability and failures. This tension has led many data scientists to conclude that better alignment with human cognition would result in more capable and reliable AI systems.

More AI definitions

Survey on AI Enthusiasm

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Only 38% of U.S. respondents to an AI survey said “Yes, products and services using AI make me excited.” In comparison, 84% in China agreed with the statement. While over half the survey respondents said they trust their government to regulate AI responsibly, only 31% in the U.S. did — the lowest score in the study. Singapore had the highest score of 81%, with Indonesia scoring 76% and Malaysia scoring 73%. -Rest of World

20 Tips for Job-hunting College Graduates

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Ask yourself: Am I keeping myself physically, psychologically, and spiritually healthy? If the answer is no, then stop looking for new ways to feel guilty and allow yourself to breathe. Give time to self-care. Don’t pile more on top of yourself when you are already sliding backward. Secondly, are there members of your family in need of support? Make that your next priority.

If those areas are in good shape, here are some steps to consider for a strong career launch when the cloud lifts and you can move forward. Take them with a grain of salt. Avoid comparing yourself to others and ask what is reasonable for you to do, given your time and situation. Think of this as a “choose your adventure” exercise. Set attainable goals to foster a sense of control during a moment of change.

1. Update your resume: No mistakes, and it must be easy to glance through. Have you included your social media? Every employer will check your social media and Google you. You should do that yourself. You’ll find more specific resume recommendations here.

2. Speaking of socials: Give yourself a social media makeover. Look for inappropriate or unfocused tweets, posts, and Instagram stories, then reconsider your privacy settings, clearly define your audience, and so on. You’ll find makeover suggestions here. Don’t forget LinkedIn (if your industry uses it).

3. Reverse engineer your career: Look up jobs that interest you and see what’s missing from your resume or needs shoring up. What can you do now, before you leave school? What equipment do you have access to right now that you won’t have access to later? Perhaps there are holes in your knowledge of software commonly used in your field. Get up to speed on professional software programs used in your industry.

4. Gather all your supporting materials now so you aren’t scrambling when a prospective employee asks for various kinds of writing samples. Do you have recommendation letters, headshots, thank you notes, etc.? 

5. Work on your elevator pitch. Create a compelling speech about your professional life that lasts no more than 20 seconds. Try your pitch on others for feedback. 

6. Create a list of job sites you will visit once a week. If you plan to work in media take a look at this list. Look for other (often in social media) produced by groups dedicated to your industry. Remember: Your first job or two is not a lifelong commitment. Your path is likely to be circuitous. Aim at moving in the right general direction rather than getting there in one big leap.

7. Create Google alerts to bring you articles from Google News related to your industry by using keywords. Stay on top of the trends. Pro tip: Set a Google alert for your name, so you’ll know when someone has posted about you online.

8. Try some mock interviews with friends or a bot. They can grab some typical questions off the internet to throw at you. One step better: Do a mock Zoom interview with a friend. Do you come across professionally? Do you have flattering lighting set up? Are you easy to hear? Is your camera at eye level?

9. Are there contests offered by professional organizations in your field for which you could submit entries? Pick two or three of these organizations to join. It will cost something but also look good on your resume and separate you from other students. Attending events and connecting with pros is a way to gain contacts that may help you in your job search.

10. Be ready to answer in a job interview, “What new skills are you learning between semesters or during the self-quarantine of the pandemic?” Show that you use your time wisely.

11. Develop more life skills. If you haven’t already done so, put effort into learning to cook, doing your own laundry, etc. Try Googling, “What college students should be able to do on their own.” 

12. Educate yourself on your student loans. When are you supposed to start paying them off? Do you have deferral options?

13. Cut costs and budget. Where can you stop spending? If you don’t have a budget, make one—even if it is just projected. Know where your money is going. How much money can you spend on job hunting? Invest in your future. 

14. Work on a nonprofit. You can help others while developing your specialized skills in just a few hours a week.  

15. Read articles about job hunting. You’ll find many on my site Goforth Job Tips. Start with the career advice articles, then move on to those on resumes and interviews.  

16. Pick a platform (like SquareSpace) to create a website that will house projects you’ve completed. Find a place to show what you can do. Buy your own domain name. Mine is www.StephenGoforth.com. It’s easy to do at places like GoDaddy.

17. Pick up some books (online or physical) and listen to some podcasts that either distract you for a few moments and fire your imagination or else educate you about your chosen field. Pro tip: connect with someone who does hiring in your industry and ask for reading/listening recommendations. 

18. Contact professionals for advice on what you should be doing. Don’t ask for a job—ask them to have a cup of coffee with you (by video conference, of course) and then ask questions and listen. Ask your professors who they would recommend you seek out—then ask the same question each time you finish having coffee with a pro.   

19. Attend webinars offered by professional groups in your field. Joining online events is a way to add a line to your resume while learning a few things. I post a list of them for AI, journalism, and media each Monday.

20. Address the AI literacy, integration and adoption expectation for your field. You may get asked in a job interview, "Tell me about your experimentation with using AI?" (literacy), "How has AI changed your workflow?" (integration) and "Tell me about a project you have completed using AI?" (adoption). My website is filled with AI articles to educate yourself. Getting an AI certificate from Google, OpenAI, or other major companies is a way to get it on your resume.

Don’t try to take on everything at once. Focus on what you can do today; that one step in front of you.

Stephen Goforth