Sri Lanka Press Institute Hosts ’’AI Growth Lab’’ Training for Trainers on Google Tools for Journalists

Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 16 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) successfully conducted a two-day "AI Growth Lab: Google Tools for Journalists" Training for Trainers (ToT) programme, held on the 2nd and 13th of July, under the banner of the Google News Initiative.

The programme, themed "Empowering Journalists. Enhancing Stories. Strengthening Truth," brought together members of the media fraternity from various news organisations, including Wijeya Newspapers, Virakesari, Neth FM, Independent Television Network (ITN), and freelance journalists, for an in-depth exploration of how artificial intelligence is transforming the modern newsroom.

Participants were introduced to a suite of Google's tools that are increasingly shaping journalistic practice, including NotebookLM, Gemini (Gems and Canvas), and Pinpoint, among others. These tools, organisers noted, are helping journalists work more efficiently across research, story development, and fact verification, while reinforcing the accuracy and integrity that responsible journalism demands.

The training forms part of the Google News Initiative's ongoing efforts to support the news industry, a commitment that spans nearly two decades. By equipping trainers with practical, hands-on knowledge of these AI tools, the programme aims to create a ripple effect, enabling participants to pass on these skills within their own newsrooms and strengthen the broader media ecosystem in Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the initiative, SLPI CEO Mr. Kumar Lopez said: "We are at a juncture where newsrooms are challenged with limited resources, but the need to tell the truth and those key stories is limitless. Therefore, one way to keep the public informed of these key stories and make journalism efficient is to use AI responsibly and ethically. This training, conducted with the support of the Google News Initiative and its trainers, helps our newsrooms to be equipped with the necessary skills to continue the good journalism that is needed amidst a plethora of misinformation."

The Sri Lanka Press Institute continues to work closely with global partners such as Google to ensure that Sri Lankan journalists remain equipped with the tools and skills necessary to navigate an evolving media landscape, while upholding the core values of truth and credibility that define quality journalism.