In a move to help journalists harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ), in collaboration with Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, organised a workshop aimed at equipping working journalists with the skills they need in this fast-evolving field. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the initiative was signed on April 25, 2025, between PUWJ and Symbiosis International University, in the presence of Dr. Vidya Yeravadekar, Pro-Chancellor of Symbiosis International University, and Dr. Ruchi Kher Jaggi, Dean (Faculty of Media & Communication) and Director of Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication (SIMC).

The three-day workshop, held from April 28 to 30 at Patrakar Bhavan, Navi Peth, was led by three expert trainers: Dr. Sneha Gore Mehendale, Dr. Sushobhan Patankar, and Dr. Abhishek Roy. The sessions covered everything from the role and ethics of AI in journalism to practical tips for using AI in content creation, ethical considerations, and much more.

With over 60 journalists from different media platforms, languages, and beats participating, the programme gave them hands-on experience with AI tools that are becoming essential in newsrooms. Dr. Sneha shared, "It was a truly enriching experience for us. While we helped journalists build new skills, we also had the chance to adapt AI tools to their unique needs, and we learned a lot in the process."

This collaboration between PUWJ and Symbiosis is an important step in enabling journalists to stay ahead of the curve in a tech-driven world, offering them the tools and insights needed to navigate the challenges and opportunities of AI in journalism.