Artificial Intelligence in Journalism: The Role of Industry Awards (I-JAI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming journalism – from automated reporting to personalized news feeds. Which projects receive awards? And what goals and actors drive these developments?

Our two-semester research project “AI Awards in Journalism”, based in the Master’s program in Journalism and Communication Studies at the University of Hamburg, examines AI innovations in journalism using international award programs—such as the WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards and INMA Global Media Awards—as an empirical entry point.

Project Goals

• Develop a deeper understanding of the institutional logics that shape AI innovation in journalism
• Analyze international best practices in AI use within newsrooms
• Design and apply empirical instruments in team-based research:
  1. Content analysis of submitted project descriptions (shortlisted and winning entries from international AI award competitions)
  2. Semi-structured interviews with team members who submitted AI projects to these awards
  3. Online survey of jury members who selected the award-winning projects

The project currently runs as a teaching-based research seminar within the Master’s program in Journalism and Communication Studies. Students work in research teams, engage with real-world award cases, conduct interviews and surveys, and prepare the results for potential academic publication.