The Lenfest Institute for Journalism announces the expansion of its AI Collaborative and Fellowship Program, bolstered by an additional $5 million from OpenAI.
On September 28, 2026, the Lenfest Institute for Journalism unveiled the next phase of its AI Collaborative and Fellowship Program, marking a significant expansion supported by OpenAI. This initiative, which began in 2024, has become the largest AI fellowship program in American journalism, embedding AI technologists into major news organizations to drive innovation and sustainability.
Over the past two years, the program has placed AI engineering fellows in 11 prominent American newsrooms. These fellows have collaborated with newsroom leaders, reporters, and business teams to develop AI-driven solutions tailored to each organization's needs. Their projects have spanned various areas, including audience engagement, product development, investigative research, and revenue operations.
The success of the initial phase has led to a new commitment from OpenAI, doubling its previous support. OpenAI is contributing an additional $5 million in funding, along with up to $5 million in software credits and engineering support. This investment aims to expand the program's reach, inviting more news organizations to participate and furthering responsible AI experimentation in journalism.
Jim Friedlich, Executive Director and CEO of the Lenfest Institute, emphasized the importance of trust in AI adoption, stating that the program has demonstrated that responsible AI integration is as much about building trust and collaboration as it is about the technology itself. Tom Rubin, OpenAI's Chief of Intellectual Property and Content, highlighted the vital role of local news in fostering community connections and expressed enthusiasm for supporting journalists in their work through this expanded partnership.
As the program enters its next stage, the Lenfest Institute plans to invite additional news organizations to join the cohort, continuing to focus on developing practical AI applications that uphold the highest editorial standards and preserve the human judgment central to journalism.