30 November 2021 | Tübingen

Cyber Valley launches program for AI and journalism

Call for journalist-in-residence until February 15, 2022

Interested journalists can apply as of now

The Cyber Valley Journalist-in-Residence program is going into series. After the pilot project with data journalist Christina Elmer, the program “AI and Journalism” will become a permanent part of the Cyber Valley public engagement strategy next year – in close cooperation with the Center for Rhetorical Science Communication on Artificial Intelligence (RHET AI) and funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.

Interested journalists can apply for a three- to six-month compensated residency from now until February 15, 2022. During this time, the journalist-in-residence can conduct research on a topic of his or her own choosing in an exchange with AI researchers from various disciplines – absolutely independently. Cyber Valley explicitly does not expect any reporting on AI topics or about Cyber Valley during this time.

“I recommend an application to anyone who is willing to take a deep dive into research on intelligent systems – and at the same time wants to be in a city that closely follows such developments,” says Christina Elmer, who took a break from April to June 2021 as deputy head of development at the news magazine “Der Spiegel” and is now Germany’s first professor of data journalism at TU Dortmund.

What does Cyber Valley offer?

Introduction to the basics of machine learning, computer vision and robotics
Building your own network with researchers
Insights into the Cyber Valley ecosystem
Freedom for creativity and reflection on methods, tools and AI-supported journalism
Remunerated work contract
Budget for own events (e.g. workshops, expert talks, travel)
Costs for office and accommodation will be covered

How to apply?

Interested media representatives can apply via email to Cyber Valley Public Engagement Manager Patrick Klügel by February 15, 2022 with a cover letter, resume, and idea paper. The two-page idea paper illustrates which journalistic challenge is to be solved during the stay with regard to the topic of AI or with the help of AI. The selection decision will be made by a jury by early March 2022.

Further information on the call for applications and the process of the Cyber Valley Journalist-in-Residence program is summarized in this document (in German).