ERAI Fellowship

AT A GLANCE

Fully Online – Live Seminars, Applied Labs, Capstone

11 WEEKS PROGRAMME

OUR MISSION

Why ERAI Exists

The ERAI Fellowship exists because artificial intelligence is the defining governance challenge of our time — and most journalists covering it do not yet have the frameworks, the vocabulary, or the investigative tools to do so with the rigour and authority the subject demands. That is not a criticism of journalism. It is a structural problem. AI moves faster than curricula, faster than editorial training programmes, and faster than the regulatory institutions that journalists have historically relied on as reference points for accountability.

The ERAI Fellowship was built to close that gap. It is an 11-week executive programme for senior journalists and media professionals, combining expert-led instruction, applied learning, and real-world practice to produce reporters who can investigate AI systems, challenge the institutions that deploy them, and communicate their findings to the public with clarity, accuracy, and ethical grounding. The fellowship does not aim to turn journalists into technologists.

OUR APPROACH

The Human Guardrail Methodology

The term Human Guardrail is not a metaphor. It is a methodology — and it is the organising principle of everything the ERAI Fellowship does. AI systems are built, deployed, and governed by people, institutions, and governments — all of whom make choices about what these systems optimise for, who they serve, and what risks they create. Those choices have consequences: in hiring, in healthcare, in surveillance, in content moderation, in the information ecosystem that journalism itself depends on. The public can only scrutinise those choices if the journalists who report on them understand what questions to ask, what evidence to demand, and what the answers actually mean.

Investigate with Rigor

AI harm often hides inside systems that are opaque by design. The fellowship trains fellows to question the claims companies make, audit how models are built and deployed, and follow the evidence through technical complexity. Fellows learn to separate genuine risk from hype and to ground every story in verifiable fact.

Investigate in Practice

Fellows learn to trace AI systems through procurement data, incident databases, and institutional disclosures. They develop data skills and Freedom of Information techniques to substantiate AI-related claims and turn raw public records into verifiable, accountable reporting. Investigation is not an add-on to the curriculum — it is the curriculum.

Hold Power Accountable

The decisions that shape AI are made by a small number of companies, governments, and institutions. The fellowship prepares fellows to scrutinize those decisions, expose the gaps between promise and practice, and give the public the reporting it needs to demand better. Accountability journalism is how AI governance stays honest.

WHAT FELLOWS GAIN

End-of-Programme Outcomes

The ERAI Fellowship follows a continuous assessment model — progress is evaluated across lab assignments and the capstone project, not through one-time exams. This allows journalists to build confidence, refine judgement, and improve iteratively. By the end of the fellowship, participants will:

Develop a strong, non-technical understanding of AI systems and their societal impact — including how they are built, where their limits lie, and why these foundations matter for journalism

Critically evaluate claims made by governments, companies, and platforms about artificial intelligence — knowing what questions to ask and what evidence to demand.

Gain practical tools for investigating bias, risk, misinformation, and governance failures — including data analysis, Freedom of Information practice, and procurement record investigation

Understand the global governance and policy frameworks shaping how AI is developed, regulated, and deployed — and report on international standards, policy debates, and power dynamics

Detect and investigate synthetic media and AI-generated misinformation — with practical verification tools and newsroom decision-making frameworks

Be positioned for recognition and global exposure through the fellowship's capstone pathway — including potential shortlisting for presentation at the G20 Summit in Miami

LEADERSHIP

The People Behind ERAI

The ERAI Fellowship is built and led by a team committed to making responsible AI journalism a global standard - not an exception.

Sanjay Puri

Founder & Chairman, Knowledge Networks & ERAI Fellowship

Sarah Rao

Program Manager - ERAI Fellowship

Param Sharma

Senior Manager - Learning & Education Strategy

About Knowledge Networks

Knowledge Networks is a global platform dedicated to advancing responsible, ethical, and human-centered approaches to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The organisation brings together governments, policymakers, industry leaders, journalists, civil society, and research communities to foster informed dialogue and cross-sector collaboration on AI governance.

Visit Knowledge Networks

About the ERAI Fellowship