Atex AI Challenge: accelerating AI innovation in journalism

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Atex, a leading software company selling solutions for media-rich industries. Journalism is evolving, and so is the way we work. In this article we explore the Atex AI Challenge, a new accelerator program that helps newsrooms and journalists kickstart their AI projects. 

On September 12th, 2024, during the Future of Media event in London by Press Gazette, Atex announced the launch of the Atex AI Challenge, a new accelerator program aimed at transforming the journalism industry through artificial intelligence. The challenge is designed to support newsrooms, journalists, and media organizations in leveraging AI tools to solve some of the most pressing issues in modern journalism.

As the media landscape continues to evolve, generative AI has become a game-changer in how content is produced, distributed, and monetised. From helping reporters analyse large datasets to enhancing fact-checking workflows, AI is making waves in the newsroom. However, many small and medium-sized news organisations face barriers when it comes to implementing AI technologies – whether it's a lack of resources, time, or in-house expertise.

That’s where the Atex AI Challenge comes in. This program offers a unique opportunity for newsrooms, journalists, and even journalism students to present AI-driven ideas that can streamline workflows and boost productivity. Whether it’s improving news gathering, optimising distribution, or increasing reader engagement, participants can propose innovations that could reshape how journalism is practised in the digital age. Winners will receive AI credits, as well as technical and project resources for piloting their projects.

In today’s media environment, innovation isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity. News organizations must adapt to stay relevant, and AI offers enormous potential to help them do so. Yet, opportunities like the Atex AI Challenge are especially important because they democratise access to cutting-edge technology. Small and medium-sized newsrooms, which often lack the time, budget, or expertise to explore AI’s full potential, can now participate in an initiative that could radically improve their operational capabilities.

Programs like this also encourage collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas across the media sector. By fostering a space where newsrooms, educational institutions, and individual journalists can come together, Atex is paving the way for a future where AI is not only an enhancement tool but a core element in the journalistic process.

Whether you are a journalist, a newsroom leader, or a media organisation, the Atex AI Challenge is an opportunity to make a lasting impact. Submissions can range from improving advertising integration to enhancing news personalisation and monetisation strategies.

Selected proposals will receive both funding (AI credits), technical and project resources to create pilots necessary to validate their ideas' impact. The various phases will be supported by Atex, from proposal analysis and co-ideation to co-design and initial development and integration. 

Atex is already working with newsrooms through MyType News CMS,  a platform designed by journalists for journalists, leveraging 50 years of Atex's publishing expertise to streamline the entire editorial workflow. MyType is a comprehensive CMS for news website and it offers a seamless way to manage modern publishing demands. But, in the long term, Atex envisions this challenge as the first step toward a much larger goal: Atex aims to be the starting point for a structural change at the intersection of journalism and the advent of Artificial Intelligence, working closely with newsrooms and journalists.

Atex’s broader vision involves creating a large language model (LLM) specifically tailored for journalism, one that is ethical, privacy-conscious, and trained on a verified, legally sound dataset. This LLM would have optimised performance for the journalistic vertical, addressing the specific needs of newsrooms. The objective is to form a coordinated working group to develop and eventually release this LLM as an open-source tool, serving the entire journalistic community.

Therefore, the Atex AI Challenge is not just about short-term gains but about laying the foundation for structural change. By engaging the journalistic community and offering concrete resources — like AI credits and technical support — Atex is helping to usher in a new era of media innovation.

For those interested in staying informed or collaborating on this initiative, you can directly contact Atex at challenge@atex.com. To participate in the Atex AI Challenge, visit the Atex AI Challenge page and fill the form with your contacts and ideas.

Source of the cover photo: vackground.com via Unsplash