OpenAI plans Seoul hackathon for 60 working journalists

OpenAI will hold an AI Journalism Hackathon in Seoul on Dec. 12, bringing together 60 working journalists to develop articles and newsroom tools with ChatGPT and other AI-based methods. The one-day programme will take place at the Korea Press Foundation’s Media Education Center in Jung-gu and is being organised with the foundation, the Korean Association for Journalism and Communication Studies and Slownews.

The event is designed as a practical training session focused on reporting and production problems, according to Digital Today. Applicants must be employed by news organisations, although journalists from different outlets may form teams. The organisers plan to select 20 teams of three, with applications open through the KPF Media Academy website until Nov. 20.

The morning programme will feature OpenAI engineers and working journalists presenting examples of AI use in news work. Training topics include analysing court rulings, National Assembly audit transcripts and corporate disclosures, as well as article monitoring, interview preparation and transcript organisation.

Teams will choose their own topics in the afternoon and develop AI-based articles or work tools with expert mentoring. Their projects will be judged on journalism value, the appropriateness of the AI use and completeness.

Participation is free. Every participant will receive a one-month ChatGPT Pro 100 pass. Members of the top team will receive six-month passes, while excellence and popularity prize winners will receive three-month passes.