INTEC and UNESCO conclude diploma program in digital innovation and artificial intelligence for journalists
The program strengthened capacities for ethical, rigorous, and effective coverage in contexts of climate crisis and disinformation
SANTO DOMINGO. - Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, in collaboration with UNESCO, the diploma program was completed “Digital Innovation and the Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools”, an academic initiative aimed at strengthening the skills of contemporary journalism in the face of the challenges of the digital age.
The program, which impacted 30 leaders of the national media ecosystem —including directors, editors and journalists—, aimed to consolidate a more resilient, transparent information environment prepared to face complex scenarios such as emergencies, climate crisis and the growing disinformation.
During four workshops held between January 15 and April 15, 2026, in a hybrid format, participants acquired knowledge in the strategic use of artificial intelligence-based tools, as well as in information verification, digital monitoring, and process automation with an ethical focus.
The facilitators, specialists in applied artificial intelligence and risk management, guided the journalists in developing key skills to ensure rigorous, timely, and responsible reporting. As a result, the participants gained the knowledge to be better prepared to contextualize information in crisis situations and produce content that contributes to informed decision-making.
During the closing ceremony, Dalul Ordehi, Dean of the Social Sciences and Humanities Area at INTEC, highlighted the relevance of the program in the current context and emphasized the need for ethical use of artificial intelligence in journalistic practice.
“Talking about artificial intelligence cannot be limited to just its technical benefits or its innovative potential. It is essential to focus on the responsible use of these tools, especially in the hands of those whose mission is to inform,” he argued.
Ordehi emphasized three fundamental principles for the use of these technologies: “truthfulness, because no technological tool can replace journalistic rigor; transparency, so that audiences know when content has been assisted by artificial intelligence; and ethics, which must guarantee respect for human dignity and responsible communication.”
Franklin Tejeda, Program Assistant for UNESCO in the Dominican Republic, highlighted the strategic value of this training in the face of the climate crisis affecting the world, and especially the Dominican Republic, given its island status. “In this context, information is not just another everyday item, nor a luxury, but a lifeline.”
The role of artificial intelligence as an ally of journalism was also highlighted. “Digital tools allow for the early detection of threats, act as an antidote to disinformation in emergencies, and facilitate the translation of complex science into narratives understandable to the public.”
UNESCO also reiterated its commitment to strengthening capacities in the region, promoting the ethical use of artificial intelligence and the development of public policies that guarantee access to reliable information, especially in emergency contexts.
On behalf of the participants, journalist Fernando Quiroz Mora, director of the digital media outlet “Aplatanao News”, offered words of thanks, in which he highlighted the importance of the training.
“This experience has been profoundly enriching. It allowed us to learn, but also to unlearn; to update our knowledge and understand that today, more than ever, we need to break with the analog culture to respond more effectively to current challenges.”
Quiroz Mora also emphasized the importance of what was learned in the context of recent weather events, noting that communicating responsibly is also a way to protect the population.
The program also fostered the exchange of experiences among colleagues from different media and generations, which allowed for a collective vision of journalistic practice in times of digital transformation.
“Today we leave here not only with new tools, but with a commitment: to apply what we have learned, improve our practices, and replicate this knowledge,” Quiroz Mora concluded.