Thomson Reuters Regional Virtual Training on Illicit Finance in Africa 2024

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. Applications are open for the Thomson Reuters Regional Virtual Training on Illicit Finance in Africa 2024.

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 Monday, 9 September – Friday, 20 September 2024.

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.

Benefits of Regional Virtual Training

• They are offering small grants to cover internet/data costs. The data grant 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 $1,000. 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.

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Eligibility for Regional Virtual Training

• Open to journalists with at least two yearThomson Reuters Foundations of professional experience and fluent English.
  • 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. (You can check the speed of your device by logging from it on www.speedtest.net).
• Note that if you have previously attended a Wealth of Nations programme at any point or a TRF training in the last 12 months you are not eligible for this course.

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Application

You will need the following:

• Two work samples. TV/Radio journalists can send in their scripts and a summary.
• If relevant work samples are in local language, provide an English translation (if work sample is online, share link so that the web page can be translated).
• A letter from your editor consenting to your participation and confirming that they will publish any story produced through the programme.

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