Hi, I'm Patrick! 👋
I'm a journalist who loves to build cool things - from AI tools to TikTok accounts.
Together with Kaveh Waddell, I founded the consulting lab Verso. We work with newsrooms, startups and non-profits worldwide to reimagine media and use tech for facts and fun.
// Artificial Intelligence
Designing AI tools, implementation strategies and training programs
// Digital & Social Media
Building next-generation newsrooms, teams and media products
// Speaking & Teaching
Delivering keynotes and workshops on tech and the future of media
At Verso, we help newsrooms and organizations use AI effectively and strategically. Our approach combines journalistic experience with technical expertise.
What We Do
- Design and build AI tools for media organizations
- Train editors and reporters on AI implementation
- Help leaders develop AI strategies for their organizations
- Research AI's impact on journalism and democracy
How We Got Started
Our work is shaped by our time at Stanford University as John S. Knight fellows, where we explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism and the information ecosystem. This research led to the founding of Verso.
Spotlight: AI Tools for Journalism
We believe that action speaks louder than words. Our most recent projects combine technical innovation with deep newsroom experience to tackle two key challenges: helping journalists work effectively with AI, and understanding how information spreads in today's fragmented media landscape.
Verso Playground
An experimental AI toolbox that helps journalists adapt their work for different audiences and formats. Built in collaboration with Anthropic's Claude, it's designed as a safe space for newsrooms to explore AI's potential.
- Transform articles into podcasts, social posts, and other formats
- Generate fresh angles and headlines while maintaining editorial control
- Experiment with AI in a controlled, journalistically sound environment
Roganbot
An AI system that helps track how ideas spread through new media channels, starting with the world's most influential podcast. It's our first step toward understanding the evolving information ecosystem.
- Analyze long-form conversations to identify emerging narratives
- Track how ideas move from podcasts to mainstream discourse
- Make sprawling media conversations searchable and analyzable
I love building things that help journalism reach new audiences. With ten years of newsroom leadership experience, I understand what it takes to create successful digital teams and products: experimentation, data-driven decisions, and most importantly, a culture that gives talented people the space and support to try new things.
What I Can Help With
- Building and growing digital teams that love to experiment and innovate
- Developing news products that connect with young audiences
- Creating sustainable social media strategies that actually work
- Using data to improve products while staying true to your values
Case Study: Austrian Public Broadcasting (ORF)
From 2013 to 2023, I worked on digital innovation at Austria's largest newsroom. As Head of Social Media for the news brand Zeit im Bild, I built a team that transformed how young audiences consume news in Austria, reaching 2.4 million followers in a country of 9 million people.
The Challenge
In 2013, Austria's leading news program faced a critical challenge: while very popular on TV, we were becoming invisible to viewers under 35. My mission was to transform Zeit im Bild for the social media age — without compromising the rigorous journalism that made us the country's most trusted news source.
The Approach
- Built and led a team of six digital journalists, fostering a culture of experimentation
- Developed new formats in vertical video optimized for each platform
- Created a talent-driven video strategy that resonates with GenZ
- Used data analytics to inform editorial decisions and product development
- Started exploring the use of AI for content moderation in 2017
I help organizations and leaders understand frontier technology through keynotes, hands-on workshops, and media appearances. In my talks and teaching, I like to build on research and insights from Silicon Valley - and add a sprinkle of fun.
Speaking & Workshops
- Keynote speaker at media and tech events across Europe and the US
- Lead hands-on AI workshops for newsrooms and organizations
- Regular expert commentator on AI, tech, and Silicon Valley for TV and podcasts
- Lecturer at universities and journalism schools
