Newsflash’s Okiring selected for prestigious Journalism AI Academy

By Newsflash Team

Newsflash writer, Daisy Okiring, has earned a coveted spot among 20 leading journalists from across the African continent selected to join the 2025 JournalismAI Academy for Newsrooms in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The prestigious programme is designed to equip media professionals with in-depth knowledge on the intersection between journalism and artificial intelligence (AI).

Okiring joins an elite list of media professionals from renowned organisations such as Nation Media Group (Kenya), Reuters, News Agency of Nigeria, Africa Check, among others.

Her selection not only highlights her commitment to impactful journalism but also places Newsflash Kenya on the continental map, just four months after its launch.

An accomplished features writer, Okiring has built her reputation around in-depth coverage of health, agriculture, climate change, and the environment.

She also serves as Newsflash Kenya’s Social Media Editor and Online Strategist, roles that have helped position the platform as one of the fastest-rising independent digital newsrooms in Kenya.

Nod to impactful storytelling

Speaking after the announcement, Okiring expressed her excitement at being chosen, terming it a defining moment in her journalism journey.

“This is a great milestone in my journalism careers as a features and science writer. This is an indication that emerging digital media organisations can also be avenues for good and impactful story-telling,” she said.

Okiring’s selection was based on her groundbreaking story titled AI in agriculture: Kenya’s digital farming reinvention, which explored how emerging technologies are transforming farming practices in the country.

The piece caught the attention of the selection committee due to its blend of science, data, and human interest—hallmarks of great journalism in the modern age.

Her achievement comes at a time when Newsflash Kenya is gaining traction as an authoritative, thorough, and independent news site.

Despite being barely four months old, the outlet has demonstrated strong editorial leadership and bold storytelling, covering a wide range of topics including politics, emerging current affairs—both local and global—health, agriculture, the environment, climate change, and disruptive technologies like AI.

This editorial boldness and versatility have played a significant role in Newsflash’s rapid audience growth and influence in Kenya’s digital media landscape.

Empowering Journalists through AI

The JournalismAI Academy is a virtual training programme developed by the JournalismAI team at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and powered by the Google News Initiative.

Since its inception in 2021, the programme has trained over 180 newsroom professionals worldwide.

The 2025 edition will begin in July and run for five weeks.

It features a series of expert-led masterclasses, interactive discussions, and collaborative resource development. Its primary aim is to help journalists better understand the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence presents to modern journalism.

Participants will explore how AI tools are shaping content production, audience engagement, data analysis, and newsroom efficiency. Beyond individual learning, the Academy also supports the development of resources that can help participating organisations adopt AI in practical and ethical ways.

From all of us at Newsflash Kenya, we wish Daisy the very best in this new and exciting chapter of her career.