AI literacy for communicators CPD
Training to upskill senior PR, marketing and communications professionals to make confident, informed decisions on AI in their work.
Move from AI adoption to AI literacy
Communications is one of the professions most exposed to generative AI and one of the least-equipped to evaluate it critically, according to recent research. Adoption is outpacing understanding, with AI tools proliferating faster than the governance frameworks and the ethical literacy needed to use them responsibly. This programme is aimed at supporting businesses to close that gap.
AI literacy for communicators is a research-led executive upskilling programme, delivered in partnership by University of Sussex Associate Professor Dr Tanya Kant and senior communications practitioner Jo Sutherland from Magenta Associates.
Across two consecutive online sessions, delegates move from AI awareness to the first rungs of AI literacy, gaining the technical grounding, ethical frameworks and commercial judgement to make more confident, accountable decisions about AI in their organisations.
Who this course is for
Communications professionals, senior PR and marketing practitioners, in-house communications leaders and consultants who already use AI tools, but want to do so with more understanding, confidence and accountability. The course is built for people who set, influence and follow policy, brief teams and carry reputational responsibility, across every sector.
Attending this course, you will acquire:
- a framework for AI literacy covering technical understanding, critical evaluation, responsible use and human oversight
- a working understanding of the generative AI economic landscape and where value is being created, captured and lost in communications
- the knowledge needed to identify, mitigate and communicate AI-related ethical risks, including bias, representational harm and opaque decision-making
- a critical awareness of the new AI information economy
- a defensible AI governance position and the language to explain it to an executive board
- the grounding to develop bespoke policies, toolkits and processes for responsible AI adoption in your organisation.
I enjoyed the course structure, introduction to new technologies and ethical considerations. It gave me lots of good information to bring back to the wider technology team around our own use as an organisation.” Andy Grant
Elior UK
Programme sessions
Day 1: AI literacy in the new communications economy
Morning session: the new AI communications economy
An overview of the generative AI technological and economic landscape, as well as the structural shifts reshaping communications professions. This session covers key AI definitions and differences, content commoditisation, AI platforms as gatekeepers, workforce disruption and the transition from 'move fast' to 'move ethically'.
Afternoon session: AI literacy – building understanding and trust
This session establishes what AI literacy is, how it differs from basic tool use and why it matters now. It also introduces the four-pillar framework (technical understanding, critical thinking, responsible use and human oversight) and closes with the practical building blocks for embedding AI literacy across a communications team.
Day 2: ethical and responsible AI use in creative and campaign workflows
Morning session: ethical and responsible AI tool use
A case-led examination of ethical implications of AI use in communications-linked contexts (environmental concerns, computational bias, representational bias, discrimination and data privacy). It covers the five core ethical risk categories, practical bias mitigation techniques and the communicator's role as trust gatekeeper.
Afternoon session: AI in creative and campaign workflows
This is the applied session. It covers the campaign lifecycle from ideation and audience research through to content production, review and reporting.
Book now
- September 2026
Two consecutive online sessions, 15-16 September 2026.
Tuesday 15 September 2026, 10am–2.30pm (UK BST, including lunch break).
AI Literacy in the new communications economy: building understanding and trust.
Wednesday 16 September 2026, 10am–2.30pm (UK BST, including lunch break).
Ethical and responsible AI use in creative and campaign workflows.
Attendance at both sessions is required for a completion certification.
Cost: £800 (VAT exempt).
- January 2027
Two consecutive online sessions, 19-20 January 2027.
Tuesday 19 January 2027, 10am–2.30pm (UK GMT, including lunch break).
AI Literacy in the new communications economy: building understanding and trust.
Wednesday 20 January 2027, 10am–2.30pm (UK GMT, including lunch break).
Ethical and responsible AI use in creative and campaign workflows.
Attendance at both sessions is required for a completion certification.
Cost: £800 (VAT exempt).
If you have any questions about the course or you wish to express your interest in future cohorts in AI literacy for communicators, please contact us at cpd@sussex.ac.uk.