8-12 July 2024
How is Artificial Intelligence reshaping journalism?
The contemporary information environment has been shaped by the proliferation and impact of digital platforms. Some of the consequences of this transformation are reflected in the weakening of the professional and economic standing of media and journalism, and in the exacerbation of disinformation. Now, journalism and informed citizenship confront yet another significant transformation driven by technology. In recent years, there has been a notable advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) and its widespread application across various sectors, including within the news and information industry. Among the most significant breakthroughs is the ease of use and wide accessibility of generative artificial intelligence, which has enabled almost anyone to rapidly generate content.
In the 12th edition of the CMPF Summer School for Journalists and Media Practitioners, we will delve into the implications of AI technology for journalism and the broader information landscape. How will it reshape the practice of journalism? What opportunities and challenges does it present for the profession? What are the ethical, philosophical, and societal implications, and how to safeguard humans in the loop?
Furthermore, we will explore the economics of journalism and the media in relation to AI. Notably, technology companies utilize news publishers’ content to train their large language models (LLMs) without providing adequate compensation, if any. How can AI be leveraged to enhance business opportunities and business processes for the media?
The diversity of sources and content online raises questions about the open nature of the Internet. Information integrity and countering foreign information manipulation and interference has become an important policy objective at the international level, including at the UN or G7/G20. With the open and free nature of the internet at stake, what are the key elements and implications for journalists to effectively perform their roles in the digital age?
The operations of tech companies are global, presenting challenges that transcend borders. However, there is also a strong regional dimension, evident in vulnerabilities, resilience, and policy responses. The European Union has been at the forefront of regulating digital technologies and addressing challenges to protect fundamental rights. Therefore, one day of the School will be dedicated to analysing key EU regulations such as the AI Act, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, and other relevant policy instruments.
This edition of the Summer School offers the opportunity for journalists and media practitioners to learn, discuss, and share their experiences, ideas, and viewpoints. The aim is to enrich the experience for all participants and advance their understanding of critical phenomena and processes affecting journalism and informed citizenship more broadly. The programme is structured around keynote presentations by distinguished experts, followed by interactive sessions.
Key topics
- AI and journalism: practices within and beyond journalism
- Humans in the loop and safety of journalists
- AI and media business: copyright, innovation, transformation, monetisation
- EU Regulatory framework and global standards: focus on Artificial Intelligence Act, Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, Code of Practice on Disinformation, European Media Freedom Act
- Key international developments in Internet governance and their potential impact on the future of journalism and the media sector
- Ethics of AI and ethics of AI use in journalism
Learning outcomes
- Shared knowledge of global and European trends affecting journalism, informed citizenship, and democracy;
- Up-to-date overview of the technology and practice trends, legislative changes and legal principles governing content online;
- Strategies for the development of new business models in journalism;
- Newest trends in the journalistic practice, analysis of the state of play of pluralism and freedom in the digital media environment;
- Interactive session proceedings;
- Facilitating networking among participants and among participants and speakers.
A Certificate will be awarded to participants who successfully complete the training course.
Who can apply?
The Summer School is open to early and mid-career journalists and other stakeholders in the news industry. Our aim is to gather participants from a variety of countries and backgrounds. The CMPF will select participants based on the information provided in the application form, assess the quality of applications, and take into account diversity criteria. The working language of the Summer School is English.
Scholarships
We offer up to 36 scholarships within the following categories and conditions:
CMPF Summer School Programme scholarships – 20 scholarships
Available to applicants from countries participating in the Creative Europe programme, namely:
- The EU27;
- Acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates participating in Creative Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine;
- European Neighbourhood Policy countries participating in Creative Europe: Armenia, Tunisia;
- EFTA countries which are part of the European Economic Area: Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein.
The CMPF scholarship covers travel expenses up to an established ceiling, accommodation for 5 nights, tuition fees, all course materials, access to the EUI library, Wi-Fi access at the EUI, social activities, lunches, and coffee breaks on lecture days.
Widening Countries Programme scholarships – up to 6 scholarships
Available to applicants from the Widening Countries. The scholarship will contribute 600 euros to cover travel expenses and accommodation for 5 nights. In addition, tuition fees, all course materials, access to the EUI library, Wi-Fi access at the EUI, social activities, lunches, and coffee breaks on lecture days, one cocktail, one dinner, will be offered by the Programme.
The EUI Widening Europe Programme, backed by contributions from the European Union and EUI Contracting States, is designed to strengthen internationalisation, competitiveness, and quality in research in the so-called Widening countries, and thus fostering a more cohesive European Higher Education Area and Research areas.
Global scholarships – up to 10 scholarships
Available to applicants from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, provided by the European Union in the framework of the Global Initiative on the Future of the Internet. The scholarship is intended for travel expenses (economy class fare), visas, accommodation for 6 nights, tuition fees, all course materials, access to the EUI library, Wi-Fi access at the EUI, social activities, lunches and coffee breaks on lecture days. For more information about global scholarships, applicants can contact Dr Patryk Pawlak at patryk.pawlak@eui.eu
All scholarships are awarded by application only. In the registration form, you will be asked to select the category of scholarship you apply to. Scholarships are not intended for participants who can receive funds from their own institutions.
The selection will take into account the candidate’s professional profile, language skills and additional competencies, such as having an international profile, work experience, certificates and other achievements.
Please note that the CMPF can provide an invitation letter to the selected participants but cannot assist with the Visa application process or expenses for travel documents.
Application deadline: 30 April 2024
Selected candidates will be contacted starting from 15 May 2024
Confirmed speakers
Confirmed speakers are added on a rolling basis
Elda Brogi
Elda Brogi is Part-time Professor at the European University Institute and Scientific Coordinator of the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom. Member of EDMO, European Digital Media Observatory, and former member of EDMO Executive Board. Her main interests span Constitutional, European, Media and Internet law.
Elda Brogi has a long-standing experience as a member of the expert committees of the Council of Europe. She is currently a member of the Committee of experts on increasing resilience of the media (MSI-RES). In 2022, she joined the Research Policy Network on Media Plurality of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR).
Roberta Carlini
Roberta joined the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom (CMPF), based at the Schuman Centre of the European University Institute, after a career as a journalist specialised in economic and social issues.
Her research in media studies focuses on the economic dimension of media pluralism and media freedom. At CMPF Roberta contributes to the project “Monitoring media pluralism in the digital era” (Media Pluralism Monitor), where she is in charge of the Market Plurality area. She co-authors the national report of MPM for Italy. In 2022 she contributed to a study on Media plurality and diversity online, co-authoring the chapter on the online advertising market. She is a member of the Centre for a Digital Society, based at the Robert Schuman Centre.
Iva Nenadić
Iva Nenadić is a former journalist, now Assistant Professor in Journalism at the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Political Science and a research fellow at the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom of the European University Institute. Since 2016 she has been involved in coordination and implementation of the Media Pluralism Monitor. She is a member of the European Digital Media Observatory, where she conducts research and analysis of policies designed to respond to disinformation challenges. In 2021/2022 she was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where she maintains affiliation with the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP). Currently, she also serves as a member of the Committee of Experts on the impacts of generative artificial intelligence for freedom of expression (MSI-AI) at the Council of Europe.
Pier Luigi Parcu
Pier Luigi Parcu is Part-time Professor at the European University Institute (EUI) since 2010. He is currently the Director of the Centre for a Digital Society and of the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom.
Professor Parcu’s research in the field of media focuses on the democratic and economic challenges associated with digital platforms, part of his broader interest in innovation dynamics in the digital economy and in emerging technologies. He also studies the effects of ownership concentration and internal governance of the media enterprise on pluralism and freedom of expression.