Satchel: Transforming global journalism through human-centered AI

New Zealand Female AI Pioneers and US Tech Visionaries Empower Journalists to Address the Local News Crisis

Satchel, a changemaker in digital journalism, today shared details of its new AI platform, setting the standard for how local news is gathered, analyzed, and shared. Focusing initially on government meetings, Satchel provides journalists with tools to improve the efficiency and depth of community storytelling.

The AI startup is led by Hannah Hardy-Jones and Lucy Pink, founding partners of New Zealand's leading AI agency, Contented; Peter Loforte, former Vice President at Microsoft; and Mark Talkington, a community news publisher who was previously an editor at ESPN and Microsoft.

Satchel addresses the issue of 'news deserts' – communities lacking in local journalism – and their impact on democracies. The team is targeting local government meetings for the first tool in the platform due to the difficulty of devoting hours to reporting on them. The tool uses AI to quickly transcribe, fact check, and compose high-quality articles ready for the community.  

Satchel aims to revitalize local news coverage, allowing journalists to produce more meaningful stories in less time, ensuring communities stay informed and engaged. 

"Democracy thrives in informed communities,” said Talkington. “Satchel’s mission is to ensure that no community is deprived of essential local news due to lack of newsroom staffing.” 

Talkington, a seasoned digital editor and current publisher of The Palm Springs Post in Southern California, brings deep industry knowledge and personal insights and is  passionate about bringing local news to people who need it, as well as improving the worklife and wellbeing of journalists.

The first tool is just the start. Plans call for an entire suite of AI powered journalism tools that will work connectedly across the news and media industry. 

A human-centered approach to AI is a key driver for the team. Hardy-Jones, founder of mental health tech platform, The Kite Program, brings a background in psychology and people development to the technical approach at Satchel. 

"Satchel bridges the gap between advanced AI and critical human elements, empowering journalists to do their very best work, efficiently" said Hardy-Jones.

Loforte, a 30-year veteran of  Microsoft, has worked on large scale innovation projects throughout his career. At Satchel, he brings his vision to helping transform how news is reported with AI technology on a global scale.

"I’ve spent my career thinking about how technology will transform the future,” said Loforte.“The advanced AI capabilities we're implementing in Satchel will ensure that journalism–a cornerstone in democracy–moves forward and thrives."

Addressing fears about AI  expressed by the journalism industry, Satchel focuses on enhancing the role of journalists as well as the quality of their output. 

"Our approach at Satchel is to create tools that promise high accuracy and quality," said Pink, who founded AI agency Contented alongside Hardy Jones earlier last year. There she has led the team developing bespoke AI tools for a wide range of industries including legal, health tech, finance and construction.  

Satchel, led by experienced professionals and visionaries, is poised to streamline  journalism. By combining ethical AI, innovative technology, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by journalists, Satchel is ushering in a new era of responsible, efficient, and impactful journalism.

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