AI News Revolution: How Tech is reshaping local news

Technology is rewriting the rules of journalism — and Newsapalooza is where Pittsburgh’s storytellers, students, and news lovers come together to figure out what comes next.

This two-day festival of local news — hosted at the Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park University — dives into the theme: How technology is reshaping local news. Think live debates, interactive games, headline challenges, and a chance to meet the people reimagining how communities stay informed.

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Thursday, Nov. 20 — Kickoff Party + Pitch Night

The celebration begins Thursday evening with a high-energy reception in the Playhouse lobby, followed by a story-pitch showdown where college journalists compete to sell their best ideas to local editors. The winners walk away with $500 prizes — and, even better, the editorial connections to make their stories real.

Between rounds, we’ll toast the region’s top storytellers — recognizing Golden Quill Award winners, scholarship recipients, and the newsrooms of the Pittsburgh Media Partnership who’ve driven collaboration across the region this year.

Then the lights dim as Pittsburgh’s own Frzy takes the stage for a live performance to close out the night.

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Friday, Nov. 21 — Keynotes, Conversations, and AI Showdowns

The next morning, community leaders open the main stage at 8:30 a.m., setting the tone for a day of big questions.

The festival’s headline keynote pairs national and local news anchors in a candid conversation about where journalism is headed — and what it means for the next generation. This session welcomes a diverse audience: students, reporters, business leaders, and anyone curious about the future of trustworthy news.

Afterward, breakout sessions push the boundaries of traditional panels. Attendees will:

• Test their instincts in a live “Spot the Deepfake” game.
• Debate whether humans or AI make for the more reliable storyteller.
• Join a hands-on coding workshop that shows how simple data tools can uncover and share local information.

The festival wraps with an interactive networking session that turns the tables — participants will craft headlines about their own neighborhoods, putting the day’s lessons into practice and celebrating the art of community storytelling in a digital age.

More than an event, Newsapalooza is a movement — a meeting ground for journalists, students, and citizens determined to keep local news vibrant, ethical, and alive in the age of algorithms.

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Visit the Newsapalooza page for the full timeline of events!