OpenAI introduces AI academy to support journalists and newsroom teams
OpenAI has launched the OpenAI Academy for News Organizations, a new training and collaboration initiative developed with the American Journalism Project and the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
The academy provides optional training and resources for editorial, product, and business teams.
Training centered on practical, bounded use cases
At launch, the academy offers on-demand training, practical use cases, open-source projects, and guidance on responsible AI use. One of the first sessions, AI Essentials for Journalists, introduces the core capabilities of ChatGPT, including prompting, document analysis, research, data analysis, and building custom GPTs.
According to OpenAI, the session is designed around newsroom-specific demonstrations and focuses on experimentation, responsible use, and familiarity with tools, rather than automation or replacement of editorial judgment.
In its LinkedIn announcement, OpenAI Global Affairs stated, “We're launching OpenAI Academy for News Organizations, in partnership with the American Journalism Project and Lenfest Institute for Journalism.”
Broader scope across newsroom roles
The academy is structured to support a range of newsroom functions beyond reporting, including product, technology, and business teams. OpenAI describes it as a learning community offering case studies and playbooks intended to reflect real operational questions news organizations are facing.
More advanced sessions are aimed at technical and product teams and introduce tools such as MCP servers, connectors, and the Apps SDK, which enable organizations to integrate their own data and systems into ChatGPT. These sessions are positioned as exploratory, helping teams assess whether deeper integration is appropriate for their workflows.
Additional training options focus on nonprofit newsrooms, including sessions on using ChatGPT to support donor research and fundraising preparation, without positioning AI as a substitute for existing development practices.
OpenAI presents the academy as a resource for shared learning rather than a statement on how journalism should use AI. The focus is on providing structured access to tools and examples for organizations that are choosing to explore AI, while leaving editorial decisions and boundaries with individual newsrooms.
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
Entries are now open for the ETIH Innovation Awards 2026, recognizing education technology companies and programs working across AI, workforce development, and digital learning. The awards are open to organizations in the UK, the Americas, and internationally, with entries assessed on evidence of impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning.
