Google News Lab Fellow Shows Journalists How to Use AI Tools at NPF Session

Context The National Press Foundation (NPF) runs a Local Business Journalism Fellowship that began in 2025 and is funded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The program aims to sharpen reporting on small‑business issues across the United States.

Key Facts On April 28, 2026, Google News Lab Fellow Colleen Kimmett led a session for the fellowship participants. She presented a practical overview of two AI products: Notebook LM, a language model that assists with drafting and editing, and Pinpoint, a tool that speeds up transcription and extracts key data from large documents. Kimmett emphasized how these tools can reduce manual labor, improve accuracy, and free reporters to focus on storytelling.

The session was part of NPF’s broader effort to integrate emerging technology into newsroom workflows while navigating legal, ethical and accuracy concerns that have slowed AI adoption in newsrooms.

What It Means By exposing local business reporters to AI‑driven transcription and research, the fellowship equips them with faster, more reliable methods for handling interviews, public records and financial data. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s sponsorship signals corporate interest in a more data‑savvy press that can cover business trends with greater depth.

Journalists who adopt Notebook LM and Pinpoint may see shorter turnaround times for stories and higher consistency in fact‑checking. However, the tools also raise questions about source verification and algorithmic bias, issues that newsrooms must continue to monitor.

Looking Ahead Watch for follow‑up sessions from Google News Lab and NPF as they expand AI training to other beats and evaluate the impact of these tools on story quality and newsroom efficiency.