Man of Many joins OpenAI accelerator program

By AdNews | 22 August 2025
 
Scott Purcell and Frank Arthur.

Men's lifestyle publication Man of Many has been selected for an AI accelerator program supported by OpenAI.

The publisher has also joined the News/Media Alliance and the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

The moves aim to reinforce Man of Many's position as a digital-native brand combining traditional media credibility with technological innovation.

The digital publisher has been chosen for the APAC Newsroom AI Catalyst, an accelerator run by WAN-IFRA and supported by OpenAI, designed to help newsrooms integrate artificial intelligence. 

"This is a landmark moment for Man of Many, representing a natural evolution of our founding mission to deliver content of the highest quality and integrity," said Man of Many co-founder Scott Purcell.

"Joining the News/Media Alliance and WAN-IFRA validates the rigorous standards our team has upheld for over a decade. 

“Simultaneously, our participation in the Newsroom AI Catalyst program ensures we remain at the forefront of innovation, responsibly exploring how new technologies can empower our journalists and create a more engaging experience for our readers. 

“For us, this isn't about choosing between tradition and technology; it's about strategically combining the best of both to build a resilient and responsible future for digital media."

Purcell said the publisher's approach to AI was underpinned by its Responsible AI Usage Policy and membership in the 100% Human Initiative.

"We believe this commitment to human-led journalism is crucial, particularly as the industry grapples with proposals like the Australian Productivity Commission's inquiry into relaxing copyright laws for AI training," he said.

"The notion that the 'benefits of large language models... outweigh those issues' is an untenable position. It ignores the economic reality that multi-billion-dollar technologies are being built on content taken for free. 

“Paying for content is what incentivises the original reporting and creativity that AI models depend on. To do otherwise is to legitimise widespread theft that erodes the very foundation of our industry."

Man of Many co-founder Frank Arthur said the initiatives would enhance the publication's promise to deliver premium, trustworthy content.

"Our alliance memberships provide an additional layer of trust and brand safety for advertisers, while our work with AI will allow us to deliver deeper insights and more innovative content to our readers," he said.

"We are investing in a future where quality journalism is strengthened and amplified by technology."

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