Artificial Intelligence module to launch in 2020

Learning how to be creative and problem-solve utilising, amongst others, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and virtual reality (VR) to produce innovative storytelling methods will be the vision set by a new postgraduate module at the School next year.

Running on the School of Journalism, Media and Culture’s popular MA International Journalism course, the Spring 2020 module, titled ‘Emerging Journalism’, will provide students with a wider understanding of the emerging technologies in journalism, the news industry and factual storytelling whilst allowing them to develop, prototype and launch new story formats.

Leading the module will be Senior Lecturer Dr David Dunkley Gyimah, recipient of the Knight Batten Award for Innovation in Journalism, previously Artist in Residence at the Southbank Centre and a former freelance foreign correspondent and BBC/Channel 4 News producer.

Dr Dunkley Gyimah said, “My colleagues, such as James Taylor, and I will be delivering this module using a series of sprint lectures that will be exciting, innovative and always based upon the very latest storytelling techniques.

“Our students will become agile in areas, such as creativity, problem-solving, collaborations and presentations delivered through a series of hackathons and lab sessions. This will take place in an academic and commercial agency-type environment combining instructor-led discussions and demonstrations, and live mentoring.”

The module is a continuation of the School’s work to ensure its teaching and training is of the highest standard and aligned with the media industry. To achieve this, degrees promoting digital documentary production and data journalism have been launched in recent years.

Read Dr Dunkley Gyimah latest blog: Google HQ. AI journalism shows how CI is needed. We can help with that

Tramshed Tech, one of the UK’s leading creative tech hubs who have brought together some of the leading technology and creative businesses in Wales, will provide mentorship opportunities during the module, enabling students to gain invaluable advice and support as they look to build their careers and experience real-life problem scenarios and make industry contacts.

Jess Phillips, Enterprise Innovation Manager of Tramshed Tech, said, “Tramshed Tech are delighted to be collaborating with Cardiff University on this innovative new project. We are looking forward to strengthening the link between academia and industry and supporting the pipeline of future tech and creative storytellers.”

Dr Dunkley Gyimah added, “Ensuring we collaborate with innovators and practitioners outside of the University is a key component of this new module and we’re extremely pleased with Tramshed Tech’s involvement. This will lead to a model for future “live” learning where tech, business and academia, come together deliver outstanding experiences for students.”

MA International Journalism is a one-year postgraduate degree. Applications for entry September 2020 are now open. It is suited to those with an international outlook and offers a mix of practice and theory for either aspiring journalists or midcareer practitioners.