Google News Initiative AI Skills Program 2.0 Opens Applications for Journalists in India

The Google News Initiative (GNI), in collaboration with How India Lives, has officially opened applications for the highly anticipated AI Skills Program 2.0, an advanced professional development program designed to equip journalists and media professionals in India with practical artificial intelligence (AI) skills that can transform newsroom operations.

Following the remarkable success of the inaugural AI Skills Program in 2025, the second edition introduces a more advanced curriculum focused on helping participants move beyond simply experimenting with AI tools. Instead, the program emphasizes building AI-powered newsroom applications, dashboards, automated workflows, and intelligent solutions that improve editorial efficiency, reporting, research, and content production.

This six-week intensive program combines an immersive in-person workshop, advanced online learning sessions, personalized mentoring, and a practical capstone project that enables participants to apply their newly acquired AI knowledge to real newsroom challenges.

Applications are limited to only 50 participants, making this a highly competitive opportunity for experienced media professionals eager to lead AI adoption within their organizations.

About the Google News Initiative AI Skills Program 2.0

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way news organizations operate. From research and fact-checking to content creation and workflow automation, AI is becoming an essential part of modern journalism.

Recognizing this transformation, the Google News Initiative developed the AI Skills Program to help newsroom professionals understand, adopt, and implement AI responsibly and effectively.

Rather than offering theoretical lectures, AI Skills Program 2.0 focuses on practical implementation. Every participant will design, build, test, and refine AI-powered solutions that address real editorial and newsroom challenges.

The program is delivered by the Google News Initiative, with How India Lives serving as the technical training partner.

Program Objectives

Participants will learn how to:

• Master Google’s latest AI technologies for journalism.
• Build AI-powered newsroom applications using no-code and low-code approaches.
• Create practical AI workflows that improve everyday newsroom operations.
• Increase productivity across reporting, editing, research, publishing, and production.
• Understand AI agents and their growing role in editorial workflows.
• Receive expert guidance while implementing AI solutions inside their organizations.

By the end of the program, participants will possess practical skills that can immediately improve newsroom efficiency and editorial innovation.

What Participants Will Learn

Throughout the six-week program, participants will explore numerous real-world applications of AI within journalism.

Key learning areas include:

• Story research and information synthesis
• Reporting and story discovery
• Document analysis
• Content drafting and editing
• Newsroom productivity enhancement
• AI-powered workflow automation
• Building AI applications using vibe coding
• Understanding AI agents and newsroom automation
• Solving editorial challenges using Google’s AI ecosystem

One of the program’s standout features is that no coding experience is required. Participants will use AI-assisted development techniques to build practical newsroom solutions without needing traditional programming skills.

Google AI Tools Covered

Participants will gain practical experience using several of Google’s latest AI technologies, including:

• Gemini
• Google AI Studio
• NotebookLM
• Veo
• Flow
• Stitch
• SynthID

These tools will be integrated into practical newsroom scenarios, allowing participants to understand when and how each technology can be used effectively.

Program Structure

The AI Skills Program 2.0 is carefully designed to combine in-person learning, online instruction, expert mentoring, and practical implementation.

Part 1: AI Design Lab

The journey begins with an intensive two-day in-person workshop held in Delhi-NCR.

During this immersive experience, participants will:

• Learn practical AI workflows.
• Explore newsroom use cases.
• Build AI-powered applications.
• Understand AI agents.
• Collaborate with fellow journalists.
• Solve real editorial challenges.

This workshop establishes the foundation for the remainder of the program.

Part 2: Five Advanced Online Sessions

Following the workshop, participants will attend five advanced virtual sessions covering:

• Advanced AI applications
• Emerging newsroom technologies
• Workflow optimization
• AI agents
• Practical implementation strategies

These sessions deepen participants’ understanding while expanding their technical capabilities.

Part 3: Personalized One-on-One Mentoring

A defining feature of AI Skills Program 2.0 is its personalized mentoring component.

Each participant will receive:

• Five weeks of one-on-one mentoring
• One hour of personalized coaching each week
• Guidance from experienced AI trainers
• Support for solving implementation challenges
• Assistance in refining AI projects
• Advice on integrating AI into existing newsroom operations

This mentoring ensures participants receive individualized support throughout the learning journey.

Part 4: Capstone Project

Every participant must complete a capstone project before graduating from the program.

Projects may include:

• AI-powered newsroom applications
• Editorial dashboards
• Workflow automation tools
• Research assistants
• Productivity solutions
• Custom newsroom AI systems

Participants will continuously improve these projects through mentorship, ultimately producing a practical solution that can be implemented within their organizations.

Why AI Skills Program 2.0 Stands Out

The success of the first edition demonstrates the program’s impact.

Participants from the 2025 cohort collectively achieved:

• More than 240 AI-powered newsroom projects.
• Over 100 AI applications developed using AI-assisted development.
• Average time savings of approximately eight hours every week.

Building on those achievements, AI Skills Program 2.0 expands its focus by encouraging participants not only to use AI tools but also to build customized AI solutions that address newsroom-specific challenges.

This practical, implementation-focused approach distinguishes the program from conventional AI training courses.

Who Can Apply?

Applications are welcomed from professionals working within India’s media industry, including:

• Journalists
• Editors
• Reporters
• Newsroom leaders
• Newsroom managers
• Social media editors
• Visual journalists
• Digital publishers
• Other newsroom professionals interested in AI adoption

Applicants should demonstrate a genuine interest in integrating AI into editorial processes and organizational workflows.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Have at least ten years of professional newsroom or media experience.
• Be actively employed by an eligible media organization registered in India.
• Work for an organization that operates a news website or YouTube channel.
• The organization must have produced original news content continuously for at least 24 months.
• Be able to dedicate approximately four hours per week to program activities.
• Commit to attending the entire six-week program.
• Attend the mandatory two-day in-person AI Design Lab in Delhi-NCR.
• Complete a capstone AI project.
• Prior experience with AI is beneficial but not required.
• Experience in data journalism is considered an advantage.

Eligible organizations include print, television, radio, digital, for-profit, and non-profit news organizations.

APPLY HERE

Program Timeline

Important dates include:

• Applications Open: July 2026
• Application Deadline: August 5, 2026
• AI Design Lab: August 10–11, 2026
• Program Duration: Six weeks

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications early, as only 50 seats are available.

Why You Should Apply

For experienced media professionals seeking to remain competitive in an increasingly AI-driven newsroom environment, this program provides an exceptional opportunity to gain practical expertise directly from Google News Initiative specialists and industry trainers.

Participants will leave the program with:

• Advanced AI knowledge
• Practical newsroom workflows
• Personalized mentorship
• Hands-on experience with Google’s latest AI technologies
• A completed AI-powered newsroom solution
• Skills that can immediately improve editorial productivity

Rather than simply learning about AI, participants will gain the confidence and experience needed to lead AI transformation within their organizations.

For more information about this opportunity visit the Google AI website HERE

For more AI programs visit OFY Website HERE

Conclusion

The Google News Initiative AI Skills Program 2.0 represents one of the most comprehensive AI training opportunities currently available for experienced journalists and newsroom professionals in India. Through hands-on workshops, expert mentoring, advanced online learning, and practical project development, participants will acquire the skills required to build innovative AI-powered newsroom solutions and modernize editorial workflows.

With only 50 places available and applications reviewed on a rolling basis, eligible media professionals are encouraged to apply well before the August 5, 2026 deadline to maximize their chances of selection.