MediaWise deputy director Brittani Kollar presented a project at Media Party Buenos Aires 2026 that pairs five newsrooms with five independent content creators, one per continent. The Poynter Institute initiative seeks to understand how to collaborate in the age of artificial intelligence and will produce a toolkit for anyone who wants to replicate it.
From a horizontal camera to a network of more than 45 creators
MediaWise started almost ten years ago with a basic format: one person in front of a camera, shooting horizontally for YouTube. Today it works with more than 45 independent journalists, established journalists, influencers and creators who combine the team’s verified information with their own style.
“We have seen an increase in audience in partnership with our creators,” Kollar said. Funding, brand recognition and the team’s creativity have also grown.
Five pairs, one video each
Each pair will co-create a social media video, from script to shoot, and audience response will then be evaluated. “We want this to be a real-life experience that is applicable to anyone, regardless of the size of their audience,” she explained. The pairs are:
- Todo Noticias (Argentina) with Ellen Deich
- Augsburger Allgemeine (Germany) with Yunu Lee
- Indigenous Community Television (Australia) with Kenneth Lightner
- Africa Check (Kenya) with Daniel Maringa
- Chicago Public Media (United States) with Abby Schwartz
Follower count is not what matters
For creators who are just starting out, Kollar was clear: “You don’t need to have the largest number of followers to be identified by a newsroom as a potential partner.” Newsrooms look at a channel’s character, its ethics and the quality of its content.
Newsrooms’ initial fears turned out to be minimal or nonexistent. There will be friction, she warned, but “transparency is key.” The relationship between news organizations and the creator economy is also one of the themes of this edition’s sandboxes.
AI: skepticism on one continent, opportunity on another
The United States and Australia remain skeptical. In Kenya, partners are exploring AI to democratize information. In Europe, newsrooms are hiring AI developers to work alongside journalists, not to replace them.
Journalists must take part in that conversation, she stressed, acknowledging that “growth requires experimentation and being prepared to be a little humble.” The project is supported by Microsoft and will publish its toolkit in spring 2027.
During her talk, Kollar also presented MediaWise’s AI literacy resources, designed for all ages, from young people to seniors, so that anyone can use tools such as large language models or generative search ethically and responsibly.
To keep exploring the topic, read more articles on AI in newsrooms on our blog.
The conversation continues at Konex
The debate on journalism, creators and artificial intelligence continues at Ciudad Cultural Konex (Sarmiento 3131, Buenos Aires), today through Saturday, October 31, as part of Buenos Aires TecWeek 2026.
There will be keynotes and lightning talks, the Media Fair, workshops on Thursday and Friday, and a hackathon on Saturday, October 31, where ideas become prototypes. If you work in a newsroom, create content or care about the future of journalism, this is the place to connect with the people building it.
Admission is free and there are two more days of Media Party: register here and join us at Konex.
