The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY) in the United States of America has opened applications for its 2027 AI Journalism Labs, a tuition-free professional training programme designed to help journalists, media executives, and independent creators understand and apply generative artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism.
Applications for the two 2027 tracks, namely, the “AI J Lab: Leaders” and the “AI J Lab: Creators”, are open until October 16, 2026.
The programmes are developed by J+, the professional training arm of the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, with support from Microsoft.
The three-to-six-month hybrid programmes combine lectures, practical laboratory sessions, peer discussions, coaching, and individual projects.
According to the organisers, the programme is intended to help journalists and media professionals develop a practical understanding of AI and make informed decisions about its use while maintaining journalistic ethics and audience trust.
The “AI J Lab: Leaders” track will run from January 13 to April 23, 2027, and is designed for newsroom leaders, editors, and media executives with responsibility for strategy, people, products, or budgets.
The track will examine how media leaders can make evidence-based decisions about where AI should be deployed within their organisations, including in strategy, product development, ethics, and organisational culture.
It will also explore ways that AI can support the day-to-day work of managing people and leading news organisations.
The Leaders track will begin with a mandatory two-day in-person session in New York from January 22 to 23, 2027, followed by online sessions on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
The second programme, “AI J Lab: Creators”, will run from January 27 to May 13, 2027, in partnership with Project C, a research hub and community focused on independent creator journalism.
It is aimed at independent journalists and content creators who manage their own audience relationships, including newsletter writers, podcasters, video and audio journalists, and solo publishers building independent media businesses.
The Creators track will focus on helping participants critically assess AI tools, protect audience trust, use AI to strengthen rather than dilute their individual voices, apply AI to the business and the craft of journalism, and develop sustainable workflows that allow individual creators to publish at scale.
The programme will have a mandatory in-person kickoff in New York from February 8 to 9, 2027, followed by online sessions on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
The AI Journalism Labs use a seminar-and-lab model, alternating lectures from AI specialists with hands-on sessions led by experienced practitioners.
Participants will also work on an individual project throughout the programme, supported by coaches and peers.
Projects may include plans for deploying AI within newsrooms, developing newsroom AI strategies and protocols, or creating products that use artificial intelligence.
Participants will present their projects to their respective cohorts at the end of the programme.
The organisers said the programme is designed around the principle that journalists and managers need to experiment directly with AI to understand its potential applications and make strategic decisions about the technology.
Both programmes are open to international applicants, although participants must be able to travel to the United States for the mandatory New York kickoff.
Each laboratory is expected to accommodate approximately 20 to 25 participants.
CUNY is encouraging applications from journalists and media leaders with diverse professional backgrounds and experience, including those working in established news organisations, digital start-ups, for-profit and non-profit media, and specialist or niche publications.
Previous AI Journalism Lab cohorts have included programmes focused on AI adoption, leadership, and building AI-related journalism projects. CUNY says six cohorts have been conducted since the programme began, including the 2024 pilot, 2025 Leadership and Adoption labs, the 2025 AI Community Engagement Lab, and 2026 Leaders and Builders cohorts.
Applicants do not need extensive previous knowledge of artificial intelligence to participate. However, CUNY says it is looking for candidates who demonstrate technological familiarity, a record of innovation, and curiosity about AI.
The AI Journalism Labs are tuition-free for selected participants, with funding support from Microsoft Journalism.
CUNY said participants will gain greater confidence in deploying AI tools ethically and equitably, deepen their understanding of emerging technologies, examine the relationship between AI and journalism ethics, and develop strategies for addressing AI within their news organisations.
Participants will also receive continuing support for their learning and career development and become part of a community of media professionals working on AI-related challenges.
Applicants are required to submit a completed application form, a current résumé, an idea for an AI-related journalism challenge they would like to research or experiment with during the programme, and contact details for two references.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the admissions committee before final selections are made.
Applicants must also be comfortable communicating in English, as the training will be conducted entirely in English, and those selected must commit to attending the relevant mandatory in-person kickoff in New York.
CUNY said it will provide flat travel stipends where needed, although participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and securing any necessary visas or travel documents.
The Creators programme is being developed in partnership with Project C, which describes itself as a research, community, and educational hub for journalists building sustainable, independent media businesses.
Project C will help develop the Creators curriculum and provide instructors for the programme. Its founder, Liz Kelly Nelson, will teach and host classes during the programme.
The application deadline is October 16, 2026.
To apply, go to https://www.journalism.cuny.edu/j-plus/ai-journalism-labs/ai-journalism-labs-application/
For questions while completing the application, contact Aldana Vales, AI Journalism Labs Lead, at aldana.vales@journalism.cuny.edu.
