Southeast Asia plays a key role in AI development in the world. From data annotation and data centers to everyday apps, people living here engage with the supply chain whether as part of the backend of the system or as consumers.

As tech companies race to scale AI products, their effects on labor, education, and the information ecosystem are becoming increasingly consequential. Political lobbying is also expected to intensify as government regulations are either stuck or trying to catch up. 

AI development across the region is being driven by an industry that remains largely opaque to the public. While governments and tech companies promote AI as a driver of innovation, far less attention has been paid to the labor, environmental, governance, and information ecosystem costs underpinning its development and deployment. 

To address these issues, the Pulitzer Center is launching a training program to strengthen the capacity of newsrooms to produce rigorous public interest reporting on AI and its impacts on communities.

Drawing on its expertise in AI accountability reporting, the Center will organize a training on reporting on AI accountability, to be facilitated and led by our grantees and Fellows. The training will be attended by reporters and editors from 1-2 newsrooms each in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. It will be held in four 1.5 hour sessions spread over three weeks. 

At the end of the training, journalists and their newsrooms will be invited to pitch stories. Newsrooms with compelling proposals will be provided with story grants worth up to $8,000 during the first year and $10,000 during the second year.

Using the knowledge and skills they learned during the training, the newsroom will produce an in-depth report, a mini-documentary, or a multimedia output on the topic. They will also produce short campaigns on social media tackling the same topic.

The newsrooms will be mentored by Fellows and grantees of the Pulitzer Center. They will also serve as mentors in the production of the stories.

The training program is open to newsrooms based in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Applications must include details about the newsroom, what they want to learn about reporting on AI, and 1-2 story ideas.

This is a closed call. Potential applicants may reach out to Karol Ilagan via [email protected].