You probably know The Media Copilot as a newsletter where I, Pete Pachal, write commentary on what’s going with AI and media. I hope you look forward to the podcast every week. And some of you may know it as a place to take classes on how to use AI in your work, or request AI training or consulting for your team.
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Key Takeaways
- The Media Copilot is expanding into service journalism for media teams.
- Audience survey ranked “case studies from real teams” as the top request.
- A new RJI partnership will produce in-depth case studies on AI in newsrooms.
All of that continues, but as of today The Media Copilot will also be a destination for a very specific kind of service journalism. In our recent audience survey, the No. 1 thing readers requested was more “case studies or examples from real teams,” followed by “mini guides.” I’m thrilled to announce that we’re partnering with the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) to produce exactly that. The Media Copilot’s writers will create original in-depth case studies, how-to guides, and expert advice—usually on AI-powered software but also on newsroom and content-creation services in general.
The reboot begins
The first services we’re tackling are Nota, an AI content platform for newsrooms, and Chartbeat, an audience analytics platform. Expert writers from our network author the pieces, which will post to a new site from RJI, News Media Help Desk. On The Media Copilot, we will publish altered versions of those articles, remixed by AI and carefully edited by our editors, typically Media Copilot Executive Editor Christopher Allbritton or myself.
This isn’t slop. We went through an extensive tool-selection process, strategized around article formats, and meticulously crafted the prompts. Every remix goes through both copy editing and proofreading as well as an “Is this useful?” reality check. And remember: the basis of every one of these articles as a real, human-written piece from one of our contributors.
In addition, we’ll continue to experiment with AI-generated news stories, like we did earlier this fall. Again, we’ve developed a highly specific set of prompts to ensure the stories are relevant to our audience, and every story undergoes a careful editing process, which includes highlighting relevant takeaways. It’s not our goal to “flood the zone” with stories—we’ll only report on news that advances the conversation around AI and media in some way.
To support this content expansion, we have a brand-new Media Copilot website. Going forward, most of our content will live on the web. The newsletter will remain on Substack, and my column and podcast will keep arriving in your inbox—that doesn’t change. However, the newsletter will also be a showcase for our best guides and the top news stories. You’ll probably see it in your inbox a little more often, too.
Wait, there’s more! In addition to all this content, The Media Copilot will publish guest columns from fellow writers and thought leaders who exist at the intersection of AI and media. I hope that our site becomes a “big tent” for several voices who are helping point the way for the industry as AI becomes intertwined with everything we do.
The vision is for The Media Copilot to become not just a place for commentary about how AI is changing media—and not even just a place to get practical advice on how to use AI tools. With this change, I intend The Media Copilot to be the ultimate case study for an AI-forward publication. It is our mandate to be an example for how a media company can integrate AI into every part of the company—while still preserving editorial judgment, content quality, and integrity. We will, in every way we can, practice what we preach.
What does this mean for you?
If you’re a subscriber to the newsletter, you don’t have to do anything. Our content will continue to arrive in your inbox, just a little more often. Of course, we’d love it if you’d come to the website from time to time, but there’s no obligation.
If you’re a paid subscriber, you’ll automatically be qualified to access any paywalled content on the site. For our launch, we’re making all article content on the website free for 30 days, so you don’t have to worry about how this works—for now. But look for an email in the coming weeks about confirming your membership on The Media Copilot website.
If you’re interested in having your tool or platform featured on the site, feel free to reach out and we’ll consider it. At this time, we’re primarily focused on tools for journalists, newsrooms, and PR professionals.
Finally, if you’d like to become a contributor–either for our guides or thought leadership, please get in touch.
On a personal note, I’m thrilled to take The Media Copilot to a new level and start building its new home on the web. I’m also nervous—part of being innovative means there’s no rulebook for what you’re doing. I hope what we bring to you is useful and that we grow into a valuable resource for even more media professionals and even content creators in general. But I also know we’re going to make mistakes along the way. Whatever happens, I’d value your feedback. Please email me with your thoughts anytime.
Thanks for going on this journey with us. We promise to always do our best to provide something valuable while being transparent about how we do it.
