Steal this: AI projects newsrooms actually shipped and how they got it over the line
Sat 18 April 2026
09:30
Free
Calculating distance...
2026 is the year of operationalizing all those AI experiments. This session spotlights real newsroom projects that shipped, the support and discipline required and the obstacles teams faced turning prototypes into workflow tools.
Attendees will hear about concrete examples of AI projects metro newsrooms actually launched; learn what it really takes to get from prototype to production including engineering support product discipline and leadership buy in; have access to reusable repos templates and playbooks newsrooms can adapt for their own workflows; and understand a clear picture of how cohort-based support accelerates real deployment. This session makes sense for:
> Anyone actively evaluating or piloting AI and automation tools.
> Anyone navigating AI + newsroom culture, governance, staffing and workflow integration.
> Newsroom leaders and practitioners responsible for turning experimentation into day‑to‑day practice.
Moderated by Emily Brown.
Sponsored by Microsoft.
Modified more than a month ago
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Emily Brown
Emily Brown is Microsoft’s Journalism Director, working to strengthen the news ecosystem by supporting journalists, local media and journalism organizations navigating rapid technological change. She builds partnerships that drive newsroom innovation, foster trust in emerging technology and promote best practices in AI adoption. Before joining Microsoft, Emily was USA TODAY’s Managing Editor for Audience and Digital Platforms, leading teams focused on social strategy, audience growth and data-driven engagement. She started her career as a features reporter in northern Virginia and remains passionate about helping newsrooms reach audiences and sustain high-impact journalism.
Kati Erwert
Kati Erwert leads The Seattle Times’ product and marketing departments and oversees the organization’s public service, community engagement and fundraising initiatives. She is a key member of the audience and subscription team, dedicated to growing The Seattle Times’ readership and subscriber base in the Puget Sound and beyond. Erwert heads fundraising efforts to support The Seattle Times’ community-funded journalism, partnering with the newsroom to identify ways to expand coverage of critical issues our region faces. Her team is responsible for the annual Fund for those in Need drive, corporate philanthropy and other initiatives that impact and improve the local community. Erwert has expanded the traditional marketing function to include an innovative portfolio of strategic partnerships. She joined The Seattle Times in 2007 after working in commercial radio for several years, and previously served as the Director of Marketing. Erwert is a graduate of the University of Washington.
Kevin Hoffman
Kevin Hoffman is an AI Engineer at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he leads the development of newsroom-aligned AI tools and provides technical consultation on AI services. Since joining the Inquirer in 2024, he has deployed applications that support reporting and editing workflows, including a digital librarian for searching the Inquirer archives and a local media aggregator that surfaces community-oriented news tips. He builds these tools in close collaboration with newsroom staff, with the goal of supporting the people who use them. Outside of news, Kevin contributes to the explainable AI community, focusing on approaches that help reveal how AI systems make decisions and reason.
Tristan Loper
Tristan Loper leads The Lenfest Institute’s National Programs. His portfolio includes the Institute’s communities of practice, the AI Collaborative and Fellowship Program, Beyond Print, the Knight Communities Network, and the Institute’s initiatives across greater Pennsylvania, among other programs. He is also the co-founder of News Revenue Hub, a nonprofit agency dedicated to helping mission-driven news organizations grow their revenue and reach. At the Hub, he collaborated with hundreds of news organizations and talented individuals to help raise over $120 million in support of mission-driven journalism. Most recently, Tristan served as the Hub’s Chief Product Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Earlier in his career, Tristan was the lead technologist at Voice of San Diego and worked in continuing education program management, design, and marketing. He has also developed and taught accredited courses in photography.
Festival Internazionale del Giornalismo
Il Festival Internazionale del Giornalismo di Perugia è un evento annuale che riunisce professionisti dei media, esperti di comunicazione e appassionati di informazione da tutto il mondo. Si svolge nel centro storico di Perugia e offre conferenze, dibattiti, workshop e opportunità di networking sui temi più rilevanti del giornalismo contemporaneo.