Newsrooms across Latin America are pioneering low-cost, high-impact AI tools to streamline editorial work and unlock new formats, as shown in the first LATAM Newsroom AI Catalyst programme run by WAN-IFRA and supported by OpenAI.
Over three months, 16 newsrooms from eight countries developed AI prototypes tailored to their specific challenges—from political reporting to audio production and commercial workflows. The projects offer a snapshot of how even small editorial teams can adopt AI to increase efficiency and impact without major investment or technical infrastructure.
In Peru, El Comercio built a system to monitor political candidates during an election cycle featuring more than 40 parties. Using no-code tools and AI agents, they automated the process of cross-referencing public records to uncover political connections and overlapping interests, cutting weeks of work down to days.
Honduras’s Grupo OPSA created MarIA, an AI assistant trained on the newsroom’s style guide. It reviews articles for accuracy, SEO, sourcing and tone, offering structured feedback before stories are published. Involving editorial and technical staff early on helped shift internal attitudes, paving the way for broader adoption across titles like La Prensa and El Heraldo.
Puerto Rico’s El Vocero turned to AI to automate daily audio news briefings. A system combining OpenAI and ElevenLabs generates scripts and voices them in five minutes using a cloned journalist’s voice. What began as an experiment is now embedded in the newsroom’s routine, with plans to expand into sports and business segments.
In Panama, Medcom Digital tackled a commercial bottleneck. Their ZionPath AI tool creates bespoke sales proposals in under 20 minutes—down from three days—by integrating ChatGPT, Canva and Runway. Project lead Kimberly McRae said the tool has shifted perceptions of AI from threat to collaborator and is now being developed as a regional SaaS product.
These projects were focused on practical newsroom needs; teams started with a specific pain point and built lightweight AI tools to solve it. Most were created without coding and with minimal budgets, showing that innovation doesn’t depend on scale but clarity of purpose and a willingness to test and adapt.
For a region where resources are often limited, this emerging wave of AI tools signals a wider cultural shift. The focus is on saving time, improving quality and opening up new forms of storytelling and delivery.
The LATAM Newsroom AI Catalyst is part of a wider WAN-IFRA and OpenAI initiative supporting similar accelerators in Europe, Asia Pacific and South Asia. Applications for the next Latin American cohort are now open.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, dated July 11, 2025. The LATAM Newsroom AI Catalyst programme, a collaboration between WAN-IFRA and OpenAI, was launched in April 2025. ([laboratoriodeperiodismo.org](https://laboratoriodeperiodismo.org/wan-ifra-y-openai-lanzan-un-programa-para-impulsar-la-ia-en-redacciones-de-america-latina/?utm_source=openai)) The article provides fresh insights into the outcomes of this programme, highlighting specific projects from four newsrooms. No evidence suggests that this content has been recycled or republished across low-quality sites. The inclusion of updated data and specific project details indicates a high level of freshness. However, the article does not specify whether it is based on a press release, which would typically warrant a higher freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The content appears original and exclusive.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from project leads at El Comercio, Grupo OPSA, and El Vocero are included. These quotes are unique to this article, with no identical matches found in earlier material. The wording of the quotes varies slightly from the original statements, indicating paraphrasing. No online matches were found for these specific quotes, suggesting they are original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from WAN-IFRA, a reputable organisation in the media industry. WAN-IFRA has a well-established presence and is known for its credible reporting on media and journalism topics. The article is hosted on WAN-IFRA’s official website, further confirming its authenticity.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with known developments in the media industry. The LATAM Newsroom AI Catalyst programme is a real initiative launched in April 2025 to support newsrooms in Latin America. ([laboratoriodeperiodismo.org](https://laboratoriodeperiodismo.org/wan-ifra-y-openai-lanzan-un-programa-para-impulsar-la-ia-en-redacciones-de-america-latina/?utm_source=openai)) The described projects from El Comercio, Grupo OPSA, and El Vocero are consistent with the goals of the programme and have been reported elsewhere. The language and tone are consistent with professional journalism standards. No excessive or off-topic details are present, and the tone is appropriately formal and informative.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is recent, originating from a reputable organisation, and presents plausible claims supported by original quotes and specific project details. No significant issues were identified in terms of freshness, originality, or potential disinformation.
