ARUBA — With the aim of providing journalists with practical knowledge and skills to integrate AI into their work consciously and responsibly, the Aruban association Red Arubiano di Prensa Profesional (RAPP) organized the third annual edition of the Caribbean Journalism Seminar. The three-day program took place from September 25 to 27 and focused on Innovations & AI in Journalism.
The combination of an evening of presentations and dialogue, followed by two practical workshops, resulted in a successful seminar that brought knowledge and practice together. Participants not only gained a better understanding of the possibilities AI offers journalism, but also had the opportunity to work with the technology themselves and explore how they could apply it in their daily work.
Artificial intelligence is transforming journalism at a rapid pace. AI can help journalists and newsrooms process and analyze information, verify data, develop new formats and work more efficiently. At the same time, its use raises important questions about reliability, privacy, transparency, editorial responsibility and the protection of sources.
For RAPP, it is important that journalists not only learn how to use the technology, but also understand its limitations. AI-generated output can appear convincing without being entirely accurate. Human judgment, critical thinking and verification therefore remain indispensable. The final responsibility for published information does not lie with the AI system, but with the journalist and newsroom using it.
The seminar began on Friday, September 25. Rodolfo Rodriguez, a Digital Strategist & Developer, presented how journalists and other media professionals can make use of Claude. Vincent Smit, editor-in-chief of the Dutch media outlet 1Almere, spoke about vibe coding in the newsroom and how journalists can use AI to develop their own tools and prototypes. Noel Algarín-Martínez, an editor at Puerto Rico’s Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, addressed the ethical dimension of AI and the importance of preserving human judgment in journalism.
On Saturday, September 26, the program continued with the workshop AI Essentials for Journalists, led by Chief Automation Officer Laurens Ras. During the workshop, participants learned how to configure ChatGPT or Claude around their own work, sources and writing style, so that the output does not sound generic but better reflects the journalist’s voice and context.
On Sunday, September 27, Vincent Smit led the workshop Vibe Coding in Practice. Participants explored how they could turn a journalistic idea into a first working prototype, even without previous programming experience. This allowed them to consider applications such as interactive formats, audience-engagement tools, newsroom solutions and new ways of telling stories.
The three days demonstrated that innovation in journalism is not simply about adopting the latest technology. It is about knowing why, how and when to use that technology, while continuing to question its output. Particularly in a profession built on verification, independence and public responsibility, ethics must form part of every decision involving the use of AI.
Through this seminar and its workshops, RAPP aims to create a space where journalists can meet, share knowledge, inspire and support one another, and continue developing and professionalizing their work. In this way, they can perform their work more effectively and contribute to stronger journalism in Aruba and across the region.
The Caribbean Journalism Seminar 2026 was made possible through the support of Aruba Tourism Authority, WEB Aruba N.V., Hyatt Place Aruba Airport, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, SETAR and Aruba Airport Authority.
