What do people and communities actually need from journalism – and what does that mean for how we build it in an AI-mediated world? Shirish’s monthly RJI column will draw on years of deep listening with communities to explore the gap between what the industry assumes and what people actually want, with practical guidance on what a more connected and collaborative community-centred journalism could look like.

Kulkarni is a Wales-based journalist, researcher and community organiser, whose practice sits at the intersection of journalism, AI, creative arts, civic health and social cohesion. His work focuses not simply on “saving journalism”, but understanding exactly what communities want from their information ecosystems at this critical inflection point for journalism and democracy.

He spent 25 years working in all the UK’s major broadcast newsrooms, as well as at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. He now works as an advisor and consultant to newsrooms, funders and civil society organisations navigating journalism’s current crisis.