Prompt Engineering 101 for Journalists

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Module 1 – Getting started with AI tools

This module will provide you with a basic introduction to large language models and generative AI, how they work, and why everyone is talking about them.

  • What AI language models can (and cannot) do

  • The anatomy of a prompt: Key principles of clear prompts

  • How to avoid common mistakes

  • Basic hands-on exercises

Each concept will be explored in depth through practical exercises and real-world journalism examples, allowing you to develop a strong foundation in these essential skills.

Module 2 – Building effective prompts for journalism 

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This module focuses on mastering three fundamental prompting techniques that are especially valuable for journalistic work.

This module will cover:

Structured reasoning prompts

  • Understanding how to break down complex tasks into clear steps

  • Using step-by-step prompts for fact-checking and verification

  • Practical exercises with real journalistic examples

Context management

  • How to provide effective context in your prompts

  • Techniques for maintaining consistency across multiple prompts

  • Hands-on practice with different types of source material

Template creation

  • Understanding when and how to modify templates

  • Creating a personal library of tested prompts

Each concept will be explored in depth through practical exercises and real-world journalism examples, allowing you to develop a strong foundation in these essential skills.

Module 3 – Introduction to no-code automation 

This module provides a simple introduction to automating routine tasks using no-code tools, helping you understand how to connect AI tools with your existing workflow.

This module will cover:

Understanding no-code automation:

  • What is no-code automation?

  • Introduction to basic automation concepts

  • Overview of popular no-code tools like Zapier

  • When to use (and when not to use) automatio

Building your first automation:

  • Creating a simple automated workflow

  • Connecting different tools and services

  • Testing and troubleshooting basic automations

  • Real-world examples from newsrooms

Common journalistic use cases:

  • Automating social media posts

  • Setting up automated news alerts

  • Creating simple documentation workflows

Module 4 – AI image generation and ethics
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This final module explores specialized AI tools and ethical considerations that are crucial for modern journalism, with a particular focus on visual content creation and specialized tasks.

This module will cover:

AI image generation fundamentals:

  • Introduction to AI image generation tools (DALL-E and Midjourney)

  • Writing effective prompts for image generation

  • Best practices for creating and editing images responsibly

  • Visual accessibility and alt text generation

  • Case studies in AI image use in journalism

Ethics and responsible AI practices:

  • Developing basic newsroom AI guidelines

  • Transparency and disclosure best practices

  • Ensuring fairness and managing bias

  • Practical examples of ethical AI use in newsrooms

Each topic includes hands-on exercises and real-world examples to help you implement these tools and practices in your work.