Deadline: 27-Sep-21
The Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) is seeking applications for Reporting on Illicit Finance in Africa.
Wealth of Nations is a long-term engagement, and journalists who take part must commit to all elements of the scheme, signing an agreement to this effect. These elements include:
- Intensive training on reporting illicit finance taking place online between 25 October – Friday, 12 November 2021
- The production of stories on illicit financial flows
- A mentoring support scheme that will help produce these stories, between 23 November – 13 December 2021
Additional Information
- They are offering small grants to cover internet/data costs. The data grant and a certificate of completion will be awarded at the conclusion of the programme to all participants who have attended at least 90% of the teaching sessions.
- If you should be selected for the mentoring scheme, the maximum story grant they can provide is USD 700. Please note that grants awarded vary depending on the anticipated resources required to complete the story. Any proposed costs without a detailed explanation will not be considered.
Benefits of the Scheme
- If selected, you will take part in an intensive online workshop covering illicit finance, reporting on companies, accounts and budgets, and investigative techniques.
- You will propose one or more story ideas that you wish to work on within the scheme – they will provide experienced journalists to help you pursue your stories right up to publication/broadcast.
- You will have exclusive access to expertise through their network of illicit finance experts.
- You will also have access to story ideas and editorial advice, and will be invited to share your own expertise with participants from other regions.
Format
- During week 1, participants will be required to do some self-study, including reading and exercises and attend a live Meet and Greet video call with the rest of the cohort.
- During weeks 2 and 3, participants should be able to commit to 4 hours of live video sessions per day with trainers and/or expert speakers to ask questions, share ideas, learn new skills and apply them. In addition to the live sessions, participants should allow for a few hours per week of offline reading or assignments done on their own schedule.
Eligibility Criteria
- Journalists with at least two years of professional experience and fluent English
- Thomson Reuters Foundation is looking for journalists based anywhere in Africa who are motivated to understand how their country could be losing money via illicit means.
- It is an advantage if you are familiar with investigative journalism, reporting on finances and/or dealing with numbers more generally, but if you have a strong motivation to learn about and understand these issues then they will consider your application. Early career journalists are invited to apply.
- You must be able to spend significant time working on illicit finance stories.
- Both freelancers and staff journalists may apply. Journalists working for a news organisation will need consent from their editor to take part. Freelancers should provide evidence that one or more media organisations will be willing to take their work.
- Journalists working in any medium or multiple media are welcome to apply (print, online, radio or television).
- Journalists should be based in Africa and working for one or more African media organisations.
- Journalists applying must have fluent English.
- Applicants must have access to a minimum internet speed of 1 MB/second.
For more information, visit https://tmsnrt.rs/3Cb0klW