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In a journalism landscape increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), many reporters and editors have started experimenting with AI tools. But moving from basic use to getting consistent, reliable results requires more than simple prompts. It demands a deeper understanding of how to structure interactions, refine outputs and build workflows that uphold editorial standards.

To help strengthen these skills, the Knight Center is offering “Advanced Prompt Engineering for Journalists,” a new low-cost online course running from April 13 to May 10, 2026.

Designed for journalists, editors, media professionals and educators with some familiarity with AI tools, this course goes beyond the basics. Participants will learn practical strategies for crafting precise prompts, developing reusable templates and integrating AI into everyday newsroom tasks in a consistent and responsible way.

The course is led by Joe Amditis, associate director of operations at the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. Amditis has extensive experience at the intersection of AI, local journalism and newsroom workflows, with a strong focus on practical applications and ethical considerations.

“Advanced Prompt Engineering for Journalists” is organized into five modules that build on each other to deepen participants’ skills:

• Introduction Module – Pre-course orientation: Get your tools, terminal and GitHub ready, and understand how the course is structured.
• Module 1 – From chat to command line: Learn why CLI tools are essential and set up a project environment that knows your newsroom’s beat and standards.
• Module 2 – Custom skills for Claude Code: Build reusable commands and automation that reflect your newsroom workflows.
• Module 3 – CLI workflows for newsrooms: Automate recurring newsroom tasks with AI scripts and pipelines.
• Module 4 – Agents, tools and data access: Connect AI to files and external data, explore agents and troubleshoot common issues.

The course is asynchronous, allowing participants to complete activities at their own pace each week through video lessons, readings and practical exercises. Participants can also join a live session with the instructor or watch the recording at any time. A certificate of completion will be available for those who meet all course requirements.

Whether you are reporting, editing or supporting newsroom workflows, this course will help you build structured, reliable ways to work with AI while improving efficiency and without compromising editorial judgment.

Don’t miss this opportunity. Register now to start building more effective AI workflows for your journalism practice.