The Newsroom AI Catalyst programme is broadening its reach with two new cohorts and a launch down under.
The Newsroom AI Catalyst programme, developed by WAN-IFRA and OpenAI to support responsible AI adoption in journalism, is expanding to include two new cohorts and, for the first time, newsrooms in Australia and New Zealand.
The global initiative has already reached 128 news organisations across Europe, Asia, South Asia and Latin America. With the addition of the new cohorts, 24 more editorial teams will receive hands-on support to integrate AI tools into their operations. Applications for the Australia and New Zealand phase will open in June, ahead of a three-month intensive programme for 12 selected newsrooms.
The initiative aims to help publishers rethink content discovery, experiment with new storytelling formats, and make workflows more efficient. Participants emerge from the programme with a working prototype and a strategic roadmap tailored to their needs.
Vincent Peyrègne, CEO of WAN-IFRA, said the expansion marked “an important milestone” and aligns with the organisation’s wider efforts to build sustainable, tech-enabled publishing models. He pointed to the launch of the Prototype Development Fund as further evidence of WAN-IFRA’s push to accelerate newsroom innovation.
OpenAI’s Chief of Intellectual Property and Content, Tom Rubin, said the partnership had already helped publishers advance significantly in AI adoption over the past year. “We’re excited to extend the breadth and reach of that effort as part of OpenAI’s commitment to support quality journalism worldwide,” he said.
Alongside the regional expansion, WAN-IFRA has launched a new “Advanced Global Cohort Accelerator” for publishers already experimenting with AI. This invitation-only group will support 12 organisations through peer exchange and deeper technical development.
WAN-IFRA represents 3,000 news publishers and tech companies in 120 countries. OpenAI is one of the world’s leading AI developers and has formed similar partnerships with other media organisations to support the ethical use of its tools.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://openai.com/index/newsroom-ai-catalyst-global-program-with-wan-ifra/ – This article details the launch of the Newsroom AI Catalyst program, an accelerator designed to assist over 100 news publishers in integrating AI into their newsrooms, corroborating the program’s expansion and objectives.
- https://www.worldofprint.com/2025/01/22/second-edition-of-wan-ifras-newsroom-ai-catalyst-europe-launched/ – This source announces the second edition of the Newsroom AI Catalyst in Europe, highlighting the program’s growth and its impact on news organizations, supporting the claim of its expansion.
- https://www.gxpress.net/article/8497/chatgpt-partnership-helps-teach-ai-to-apac-newsrooms – This article discusses the APAC Newsroom AI Catalyst program, sponsored by OpenAI, which empowers newsrooms with AI capabilities, aligning with the program’s global reach and objectives.
- https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/396508/openai-and-world-association-partner-to-drive-ai-a.html – This piece covers the partnership between OpenAI and WAN-IFRA to drive AI adoption in newsrooms, emphasizing the program’s goals and the support provided to news organizations.
- https://www.worldofprint.com/2024/06/05/wan-ifra-and-openai-launch-global-ai-accelerator-for-newsrooms/ – This article details the launch of the global AI accelerator program for newsrooms, highlighting its objectives and the support provided to news organizations, corroborating the program’s expansion and goals.
- https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/newsroom-ai-catalyst-launches-24195 – This source discusses the launch of the Newsroom AI Catalyst, emphasizing the program’s objectives and the support provided to news organizations, aligning with the claims about the program’s expansion and goals.
- https://wan-ifra.org/2025/05/wan-ifra-expands-capacity-of-its-newsroom-ai-catalyst-with-openai/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references events and plans dated into mid-2025 (e.g., applications opening June 2025), reflecting very recent and forward-looking information. There are no signs of outdated content or references to past roles or individuals. The expansion announcement builds on a programme initiated approximately one year ago, indicating current developments rather than recycled news.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes from Vincent Peyrègne (WAN-IFRA CEO) and Tom Rubin (OpenAI’s Chief of Intellectual Property and Content) are present. These figures are current representatives of their organisations, and their quotes appear original to this announcement without evidence of prior publication. Searches do not reveal earlier instances of these quotes, supporting the likelihood these are first-time official statements.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from WAN-IFRA, a globally recognised organisation representing news publishers, partnered with OpenAI, a leading AI research company. Both entities are well-established and credible within their domains. The announcement is published on WAN-IFRA’s official platform, indicating authoritative communication. This confers a high degree of reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about expanding cohorts, geographic reach, and AI integration in journalism are plausible and consistent with WAN-IFRA and OpenAI’s known missions and recent activities. The timeline and details correspond with industry trends in AI adoption in media. There is no contradictory evidence; the information aligns well with expected developments in AI journalism initiatives.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The announcement is a current and plausible update on a known collaborative AI journalism programme, featuring original quotes from credible officials and published by reputable institutions. There are no signs of recycled information or questionable sourcing, making the narrative highly reliable.
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