5th Anniversary and What's Next for Journalist's Toolbox
June 24, 2025
Happy anniversary to us! The Journalist’s Toolbox newsletter turns 5 years old today. We appreciate all of our subscribers and especially those who choose to donate to keep the newsletter, website and training videos going. We will celebrate the Journalist’s Toolbox site’s 30th anniversary on Jan. 7.
This newsletter has extended the Toolbox’s brand to new audiences around the globe. It gives you twice-monthly updates on the latest and greatest AI tools (and others) for journalists. I hope to expand it to a weekly newsletter in the coming months.
We’ve also expanded the brand to include more than 125 training videos to complement the site and newsletter. A video has appeared in nearly every newsletter, and the YouTube channel was launched just a few weeks before the newsletter, in the early days of the pandemic.
We added another element under the Toolbox umbrella during the pandemic as well: a textbook with exercises, training videos and practical examples from journalists.
Here are my five favorite newsletters over the past five years:
June 11, 2020: A New YouTube Adventure (first post)
Jan. 26, 2021: Jeremy Caplan guest newsletter post
Jan. 21, 2025: My student picks for AI tools
July 9, 2024: Election fact-checking tools (first of a three-part series)
Jan. 9, 2024: Publication of “The Journalist’s Toolbox” textbook
I also wanted to thank our sponsors below, specifically Rolli’s Nick Toso and Nota’s Evan Young, who have been a pleasure to work with. They’re rolling out many new features on their tools, so be sure to check them out.
Sponsor
See beyond the algorithm. Get the full story.
Get exclusive early access to Rolli IQ™ the award-winning social media intelligence platform built for journalists.
Track narratives in real-time, identify key voices, detect suspicious activity, and uncover what’s about to break, before it does.
Free for journalists reading Journalist’s Toolbox. Use code: JOURNOAI
Learn more at rolli.ai/iq
Sponsor
Be sure to check out the incredible production tools suite with our new sponsor at HeyNota.com
Want Custom Training?
Contact Mike Reilley at mikereilley1 (at) gmail (dot) com to schedule an AI tools training for your staff. Also consider a paid subscription to this newsletter.
More AI Tools and Other Resources
Does It Exist
This search engine helps you generate ideas and find if a tool or app already exists.Atlas.co
A collaborative GIS and mapping platform in the browser. Build, share, and edit maps.ShadeMap
Every mountain, building and tree shadow in the world simulated for any date and time. Great for fact-checking images.
Become a sponsor: Would you like to sponsor future Journalist’s Toolbox™ newsletters? Our rates are reasonable and our sponsors get results. Contact me at mikereilley1 [at] gmail [dot] com
Textbooks
The Journalist’s Toolbox
My new book, “The Journalist’s Toolbox A Guide to Digital Reporting and AI” was published by Routledge in December. You can order it here,
Data + Journalism
Samantha Sunne and I co-authored a textbook, “Data + Journalism” that’s available now on Routledge. (Order here). It’s an introductory- to intermediate-level guide to learning data storytelling from A to Z.
In Quotes …
“Is it perfect? No. Is it as good as my executive team? No. Is it really, really valuable, so valuable that I talk to ChatGPT every single day? Yes.” — Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO, Coursera
Follow me @itsmikereilley | @journtoolbox | Subscribe on YouTube | Subscribe to this newsletter
Copyright and Trademark 2025 | Mike Reilley