Our most recent U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) delegation made their way to the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this month as part of their Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists: AI and Technology in Journalism exchange. This project brought together six European broadcast reporters, editors, journalists, and media executives united by a common pursuit: to better understand how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping journalistic practices.
Over five packed days in the San Francisco Bay Area, a media and tech innovation hub, the delegates engaged with academics, technologists, legal professionals, and media experts to explore how newsrooms across the world can adapt, innovate, and uphold core media values in an era of rapidly evolving technology. Our program showcased America’s leadership in artificial intelligence and technology for journalism, emphasizing how Silicon Valley innovations can strengthen reporting and public understanding.
Day 1: Exploring San Francisco’s History and Culture
Starting out with some classic sightseeing, the group spent their Sunday morning taking in the best of San Francisco with a guided city tour from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Palace of Fine Arts and the Painted Ladies. The city’s varying landscapes of tall glass buildings to lush parks and hills alongside iconic sites served as a foundation for the start of the professional program, tying in the history of the San Francisco with the current focus of modern innovation.
Day 2: From Universities and Tech Hubs to Veteran Journalists and America’s Pastime
Santa Clara University – Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
Monday morning opened with a trip south to Silicon Valley, visiting Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. This collaborative initiative brings together journalists, media professionals, technologists, and scholars to develop practical frameworks that guide responsible decision-making in the creation and distribution of news. The visitors explored efforts to equip media professionals to navigate complex editorial decisions while strengthening public credibility, with a dual focus on maintaining integrity in reporting and adapting standards to emerging digital and AI-driven technologies.
From this conversation, an interesting discovery arose on how journalists utilize AI: mostly to transcribe, analyze data, and edit articles. The delegates also brought their own expertise to the table, tying in the questions of AI and trustworthy journalism from their respective countries.
Perplexity AI
After enjoying lunch and exploring the local vendors and quaint shops at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, the group headed to Perplexity, an AI-powered search and research platform that has emerged as one of Silicon Valley’s most talked about startups. A representative walked visitors through Perplexity’s large language model- and generative AI-based answer engine, emphasizing its focus on credibility and source citations for verifiable results.
The company’s approach to accuracy, transparency, and user trust resonated with the delegates’ priorities in their own newsrooms. For journalists and media experts grappling with how AI is changing research and information dissemination, the discussion offered fresh perspective into how tech companies can take a responsible approach toward their impact on public understanding.
Butler Media
Rounding out the first full day of the program, the delegation met with Butler Media founded by a veteran broadcast journalist. Drawing on four decades of experience in radio and television, the speaker shared insights into the evolution of broadcast journalism from the birth of the internet to the latest developments in AI; the intersection of traditional and digital media; and what it takes to maintain editorial integrity and audience trust in a time of information overload. Veteran practitioner perspectives gave the visitors a grounded, human-centered focus to complement previous tech-revolved conversations.
The Last Inning of the Day at Oracle Park
After a productive day of meetings, the group was excited to get a taste of America’s favorite pastime and headed to Oracle Park for the San Francisco Giants baseball game against the San Diego Padres. As part of a true cultural experience, the group took note of how engrained baseball is in American civic and cultural life with ties to community and tradition. A win for the San Francisco Giants was a perfect way to end the night!
Day 3: Final Professional Meetings on American Institutions and Values
Stanford University – Hoover Institution’s Center for Revitalizing American Institutions
Tuesday took the group down to the beautiful Stanford University campus for a meeting at the Hoover Institution’s Center for Revitalizing American Institutions (RAI), a public policy think tank promoting the principles of individual, economic, and political freedom. The group met with representatives whose work focuses on rebuilding trust in American Institutions, AI governance, technology policy, and First Amendment law.
Conversation centered on the critical role that media, journalism, and free expression play in democratic societies and on public discourse, with a focus on the challenges that emerging technologies pose. Coming from different cultural contexts, the delegates provided unique and varied perspectives into the pressures they face when it comes to media practices and changing technology. This created an exchange that was both intellectually driven and personal, leaving a meaningful impact on everyone in the room.
First Amendment Coalition (FAC)
The group’s last stop brought them back to San Francisco for a meeting with the First Amendment Coalition (FAC), a nonprofit public interest organization dedicated to upholding First Amendment values. Discussion led by a journalist-turned-lawyer centered on FAC’s work challenging press restrictions and serving as a legal resource for journalists and everyday citizens.
The conversation highlighted how legal frameworks and nonprofit organizations work together to support the conditions that make quality journalism possible. As this final meeting came to an end, the delegates reflected that although legal regulations may differ across countries, journalists worldwide recognize the importance of transparency and expression in strengthening democracy.
Leaving San Francisco with a Shared Conviction
From the challenges and opportunities of AI-assisted content to the legal frameworks upholding democratic values, this delegation covered some of the most pressing questions facing journalism today. Across the wide range of topics discussed, a common theme emerged: the need for commitments to accuracy and media integrity to keep pace with the rapid development of technologies that are reshaping how news is produced, discovered, and consumed.
The delegates returned home not only with new information and contacts, but also with a renewed sense of connection to the global community of journalists working to uphold these principles.
Global Ties San Francisco is grateful to all the local experts who shared their time, knowledge, and perspectives, and we look forward to seeing the connections forged this week grow into lasting professional bonds.
Author: Sarina Qureshi
