The online classes, live on Zoom, will take place every other Tuesday from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. ET (New York time zone). During the weeks when you don’t have classes, you will have homework, coaching or free time to work on your project. Please make sure that you are free on Tuesdays to attend class. Class attendance is mandatory.

Participants must commit to attending the in-person kick-off in New York City on March 17-18, 2025. This session is mandatory for all. If you cannot commit to it, you cannot be in the program.

Yes, we will offer travel stipends to help participants attend the mandatory kick-off sessions in New York on March 17-18, 2025, if needed.

Participants will identify an AI-driven community engagement challenge to work on throughout the program, with the help of peers and coaches. Examples might include plans to deploy AI for audience interaction in their newsrooms, or experiments using a particular AI tool to increase engagement with a specific audience. Participants will make 5-minute Zoom presentations to the class about their projects at the end of the program.

We’re looking for community journalists and news outlet leaders who are passionate about driving change and sustainability in service to their audience. Candidates should work in community media outlets in the United States, Puerto Rico, and other territories covering local news or niche interests. No outlet is too small.

In-depth prior experience with AI is not required. Please make sure to indicate your level of experience in your application so we can take it into account when we assign you a coach.

No, this program is only open to community journalists based in the United States, Puerto Rico or other territories.

Thanks to the support of the Walton Family Foundation, the program is tuition-free for selected participants.

Participants will not only forge lasting professional bonds with their cohorts, coaches and instructors but also join the vast and active network of alumni from the greater Newmark J-School community.