Sophiana Script and Video Maker AI App
July 8, 2025
Update: We've built a CustomGPT trained on Journalist's Toolbox resources. We're still testing it out and are adding it to the site this week. Take it for a spin and offer us some feedback. I’ll soon write a newsletter and do a training video on how I built it.
Sophiana Script and Video Maker
I have a soft spot for apps that are built for journalists by journalists. Former CNN producer Nick Toso built Rolliapp. Journalist and professor Joe Amditis recently launched LLM Journalism Tool Advisor. Both tools are practical, intuitive and, most importantly, essential.
Two weeks ago, another journalist joined this group: Sophia Smith Galer, who launched Sophiana: Script & Video Maker. The tool uses AI to guide you through writing concise, social-first explainer scripts tailored for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and LinkedIn.
It helps journalists and experts who want to turn complex ideas into accessible, engaging video content. It can be used for news, explaining research or educating an audience on an issue.
I took the app for a spin on my iPhone a couple of days after it launched. It’s easy to use and it walks you through the basic steps once you open the app. I helps you create three hooks (select one for your video) and it generates a script based off the story you cut/paste into the app. It also has a slick teleprompter built in that you can use to read your AI-generated script (be sure to edit it first) to work into your video.
I plan to have my students test this out with my UIC students this fall when they’re building social media posts off their stories. Much like Nota’s social media video maker, this app can speed the production process and also give students the experience of being on camera.
For now, the app is available only on iOS but Smith Galer hopes to have it available on Android within a couple of months.
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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.
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