AI in digital journalism: Google News Initiative’s online course

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having a significant impact on various sectors around the world. Its use, along with related tools, is also on the rise in the field of journalism in many countries.

Now, journalists, media professionals, and journalism students in Bangladesh have an opportunity to prepare themselves for the future of digital journalism.

Organised in Bangladesh under the initiative of the Google News Initiative and managed by Prothom Alo,

Applications are seeking from different media houses who will keen to participate the programme. Selected participants will take training in online and offline in different tenure.

Then AI transformation work for the selected media houses will be conducted for 15 months under Google management.

The programme will be started from the mid of the September. Not only give training, this initiative also identifies practical problems of the media and to solve those through AI.

Selected trainees will be given six weeks online training. Two-hour long training once a week will be conducted from14 September to 26 October.

It will be teach that how to use AI on media. After completing online training, two-day long direct training and workshop will be conducted from 16 November.

At the third stage, the participants will identify any practical problem of their houses as a challenge which will take as a ‘case’. Then the experienced trainers will work to solve the problem with the concern media house.

Which media is eligible to apply

National media, online news portal, televisions, their online portals, Digital media outlets, local media, Online streaming platform and such others which has own website, can apply.

Eligibility and Conditions for Participation

• The applicant must be a registered media organization in Bangladesh and must have its own website.

• Each organization can nominate a maximum of two participants—one from the news or editorial department and another from the business department.

• One executive-level official from the organization must be assigned to oversee the progress of the program.

• The program will include six weeks of online training, with approximately two-hour sessions held each week.

• Participants must attend a two-day in-person workshop.

• Throughout the program, participants must take part in assigned tasks, activities, surveys, and progress assessments.

• Participating organizations must permit their content to be used in Gemini LLM.

• Participants must provide feedback, suggestions, and share their experiences regarding the News AI Lab program and Google’s AI products.

• Google may use the experiences and outcomes from the program, where necessary, in playbooks, case studies, educational materials, or promotional materials.

• If requested by Google, participants must cooperate in promoting and highlighting various aspects of the program at industry-related events.

How to register

The Willing media houses can register through stipulated form

Participants can select their preferred “course time” during registration. One can easily register for the course by 21 August 2026.

For details contact 01338—694849, or to email.> newsailabbd@prothomalo.com.