Strange Bedfellows
AI companies and news organizations seem to be struggling to get along
This is Grok’s version of AI and media companies in a “Game of Thrones” setting. JMM thinks the hoodies are a nice touch.
Three weeks into the new year and everything is already kind of batshit crazy—and not just because of the not-so-permanent TikTok ban, the Washington Post exodus, the Dotdash Meredith layoffs, the bro-ing of Mark Zuckerberg, and everything currently happening in Washington D.C. (OK, most of those are definitely the reason.) But AI-Land has been soaking in its own kind of crazy that has recently included both a bit of double-crossing and a mea culpa of sorts.
It started with the Associated Press stabbing Sam Altman in the back—and not the way you’d think. The news organization didn’t publish some nasty hit piece on the OpenAI CEO. It instead went a touch Targaryen, partnering with OpenAI’s chief rival in a move that could impact everyone involved.
The background: In July of 2023, the AP inked a deal with OpenAI to allow Chat GPT access to the news organization’s vast archive, letting the LLM hoover up everything the AP has ever written since 1985. The AP was one of the first media companies enter an official partnership with OpenAI—and it was a big deal. Prior to it, all AI models had been grabbing internet content without permission. The partnership gave OpenAI access to a trove of training data to help make Chat GPT smarter and more accurate. But it didn’t allow OpenAI’s models to remain current. The deal was murky on whether OpenAI had access to new stories. At the time, Chat GPT had hard guardrails that wouldn’t allow it to comment on current news events or make up information about leading politicians (no Biden/Trump ‘ship stories allowed). There’s been no follow-ups that hint at the deal being modified, though Chat GPT will comment on current events more these days.
But now Google has announced a partnership with AP to provide a “feed of real-time information” to bolster the results of Google’s AI model Gemini.
“AP and Google’s longstanding relationship is based on working together to provide timely, accurate news and information to global audiences,” AP Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Kristin Heitmann said in a Google press release. “We are pleased Google recognizes the value of AP's journalism as well as our commitment to nonpartisan reporting, in the development of its generative AI products."
This is an interesting about-face for Google as well. Unlike OpenAI, Google and its parent company Alphabet have notoriously avoided signing any content partnership deals with media companies. Instead, Google told media companies that, if they didn’t want Gemini to train on their content, they could just delist that content from the search giant, effectively cutting those companies off from massive amounts of traffic. It was a total bully threat. This new partnership might be a softening of that harsh approach. Time will tell.
Of course, Apple probably wishes it had entered a similar deal with AP since it has been taking so much heat over its wildly inaccurate AI-generated news summary notifications. Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI-tool, launched in December. It’s supposed to provide quick summaries of breaking news items to customers based on stories from reliable news organizations like the Washington Post, the BBC, and others. But recent notifications claimed that Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth was fired, that tennis star Rafael Nadal had come out as gay, that United Health shooting suspect Luigi Mangione committed suicide, and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was arrested.
The mistakes prompted Reporters Without Borders to label Apple Intelligence a threat to reliable journalism. In a plea to Apple, the journalism non-profit demanded the company remove the feature, saying AI systems to can’t “systematically publish quality information, even when it is based on journalistic sources. The probabilistic way in which AI systems operate automatically disqualifies them as a reliable technology for news media that can be used in solutions aimed at the general public.”
Apple capitulated last week, promising to retool the feature and potentially relaunch it quickly. Rumored changes, though, don’t seem to correct the issue, just make it (slightly) more obvious that the content comes from AI. Those AI-powered summaries will be in italics, while regular ones will remain in proper old standard case. Whew, problem solved! Better news: Reportedly, users will also be able to disable the AI feature directly from their lock screen, removing those questionable notifications all together.
Helping Hand
Everyone needs a refresher now and then, which is why the Substack Your First Byline has been running a series of pieces on basic journalism practices called “How to Report.” Various longtime reporters have written about how to cover a city council meeting, how to request public records, how to report on a statehouse bill, and more. The eight current articles are steeped in practical advice and insider tips, just like the other stories about writers scoring their name in print for the first time and pieces on how to be a freelancer or copy editor. It’s a free Journalism 101 course for anyone looking to either bone-up on their skills or understand how the process of journalism works.
Triple Aces
The end of the long break always brings with it a hefty list of Drake SJMC contest highlights. This year is no different, most notably Nate Eisenmann’s 13th place in the Hearst Features Writing contest, one of the most competitive journalism competitions in the country. His piece “What Silence Actually Sounds Like” for Urban Plains focused on Orfield Labs, a sonic research lab in Minneapolis that is reportedly home of the quietest place on Earth. He spent 20 minutes alone in the anechoic chamber, a place so quiet your voice literally dies on your lips, and managed not to go insane. He did hear his blood pumping in his veins, though.
This is the fifth year in a row a Drake student has won or placed in a Hearst competition. The school is one of only two small, private universities to appear in this year’s Feature Writing Top 20.
But this year marks the first time a Drake student has placed in a Hearst Multimedia competition. Erica Sawyer’s piece “Keep It Tuned,” about Rolla, Missouri’s student-run radio station KMNR, snagged 19th place in the Multimedia Narrative Storytelling out of 81 entries from 47 different schools. Sawyer visited the station on her own, camera in hand, and came back with the 16-minute documentary nearly complete.
Of course, Eisenmann and Sawyer are only two of the 23 Drake students that will be recognized at the Iowa College Media Association awards. While JMM doesn’t know what exactly any of the students have won—could be first place, could be honorable mention—all will be revealed Feb. 6 at the awards ceremony. Here’s the complete list:
Video:
Emma Stroner, Bryson Rea, Erica Sawyer, Tim Frantz, Oliver Williams, Hailey Grotluschen, Talissa Rodriguez, Jack Geppert
Drake Magazine:
Lily Eckenrode, Princess Hart
Drake Urban Plains:
Nate Eisenmann, Andrew Kennard, Sarah Jamii, Lia Reichmann, Maddie Cisneros, Will Erbes
Drake Times-Delphic:
Morgan Neuhauser, Lily Wasserman, Seth Coughlin, Mack Swanson, Lia Reichmann, Divyanshi Srivastava
Drake Political Review:
Jack Melinski, Paige Minor
The District Sleeps Tonight
A group of Drake students is spending two weeks in Washington D.C., getting a first-hand look at the issues and personalities driving the federal government. The J-Term class, led by professors Rachel Paine Caulfield and SJMC’s own Amy McCoy, has spent the last week running around the city. They’ve met with folks on Capitol Hill, including the likes of New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. They saw former Pres. Jimmy Carter lie in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda. And, of course, there have been plenty of visits to some of the city’s standard tourist destination. You can read all about their adventures, including their thoughts on today’s inauguration, on the class blog, DrakeInDC.org.
Internships, Fellowships, and More
• JMM’s dream internship right here! Lucasfilm is looking for a summer Creative Development intern. Yes, that Lucasfilm. You’ll work with the Creative Development team, which leads all aspects of the development and management of story across live-action feature films and streaming television series (squee!). You will need to live in Burbank. You must be enrolled in school, though there’s no specific year requirement. You’ll get paid $22 an hour. And you’ll need to be available June-August. Knowledge of the Force is also a must. Get more info here.
• The Iowa Review wants to give you money—well, if you earn it. The Iowa focused literary journal is accepting submissions for The Iowa Review Awards, a poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction writing contest. You can get the full rundown of requirements here, but one key is that the work must be previously unpublished. Winners will receive $1,500; first runners-up score $750. Both will be published in the December issue of The Iowa Review. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31.
• American Public Media, home of Marketplace and Minnesota Public Radio, is looking for multiple summer interns to work remote, hybrid, or in-person internships in Minneapolis. Positions include internships in video production, digital reporting, investigative reporting, social media, podcasting, brand marketing, digital fundraising and more. Position start dates vary, as do the length of commitment. Get the full rundown of all the positions here.
• The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting wants a year-long editorial intern. The position is perfect for a recent grad looking to build up their industry contacts and reporting skills. The full-time gig is remote, but can be based in Washington D.C., pays $37,440, and starts May 27. It even comes with insurance after three months! Check out the details here.
• Dropbox needs a summer social media intern that can help create social videos for the brand. The position is remote. Pay is $4,500 per month. You must be a current student graduating by 2027. Your start date is flexible based on your school schedule, ensuring you get a full 12 weeks working for Dropbox. Get more info here.
• My Fitness Pal is looking for a News & Trends intern for this summer. The remote-friendly position will have you monitoring health and wellness content across social platforms and pitching content that aligns with the brand’s mission. Pay is $25. You must be a rising junior or senior. There may be an opportunity for the position to transition to full-time. Get more info and apply here.
• NPR’s Next Gen Radio is taking applications for its next round of storytellers. Upcoming partners include Oregon Public Radio, St. Louis Public Radio, the Texas Newsroom, and more. The weeklong program pairs participants with mentors to create a digital and audio story based on a theme. For more information, click here. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31.
• Newsday is looking for summer editorial and social media interns. The 10-week full-time positions are based at the brand’s Melville, NY, headquarters. Pay is $20 an hour. Applicants are limited to juniors, seniors, and recent grads with at least one internship at a professional news organization. Click here for more info.
• Ad giant Ogilvy has posted multiple summer positions in Chicago and New York including copywriting, design, and producer positions. Positions are hybrid, full-time, and paid between $17 and $22 an hour. During your 10 weeks you’ll work with clients as a part of the creative team. Apply by Jan. 31. Get the lowdown on all positions here.
• Hy-Vee is hiring a summer content marketing intern. Responsibilities include everything from coordinating content updates to conducting website audits. You’ll also get to work with some of JMM’s favorite Drake alumni. The part-time position is paid, but no specifics on compensation are listed. You’ll work from the grocery chain’s Grimes, Iowa, corporate headquarter. Click here for more info and to apply.
• Iowa High School Athletic Association has three summer internship positions available. The 12-week design, social media, and video gigs are full-time with a target start date of May 19. Pay is $18 an hour. Application deadline is Feb. 14. For more info and to apply, click here.
• Gannett newspapers have posted a gaggle of news internships at its various USA Today Network papers around the country. The network includes papers in Des Moines, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and more. Positions last 10-12 weeks depending on availability. Interns are expected to write four to five stories per week, acting as a full member of the newsroom. No specifics on pay are listed, though positions are compensated. The deadline to apply for all positions is Jan. 31. Get the full rundown of positions here.
• Her Campus is actively seeking journalism students to work as national news writers. If selected, writers work two four-hour shifts per month pitching and writing timely news for the site, while also contributing weekly in-depth stories to various sections. Her Campus positions are strictly internship-for-credit, though do provide lots of clips for your portfolio. Click here for more information
• The Iowa Cubs are looking for a slew of power hitters to fill multiple summer intern spots. Positions include video, merchandising, corporate partnerships, and creative services (read social media content creator). Hours and start dates vary by position. For more information and to apply, click here.
• Scripps Howard is offering summer 2025 internships at multiple non-profit newsrooms around the country to students and recent grads. The 10-week internships are full-time, location-based, and pay $15 an hour. There is some overlap with positions offered by the Ida B. Wells Society (see below). Applications are due Jan. 31. For more information, click here.
• Adventureland, home of the roller coaster landmark The Tornado, needs a summer 2025 marketing content intern. The position runs the park’s full season, from April 1-Oct. 31, and is full-time during the summer months. You’ll need to be on-site at the park’s Altoona, Iowa, offices. You’ll be responsible for updating Adventureland’s website and social channels, as well as assisting with in-park events. Roller coaster rides are included. For more information, click here.
Got Some Secret Sauce?
Do you have some essential info or were you just named the Director of Content Marketing for Hy-Vee like Lindsay Ladd (Mags, ’13)? If so, then let JMM know by sending that juicy news on over to jeff.inman@drake.edu. JMM will treat it like this shoutout from sophomore Serena Thiede (MMJ, Writ) about the start of her new internship with the Iowa National Guard and tell everyone about it.
Finally, TV in Iceland is better.