The Thomson Reuters Foundation in partnership with the African Centre for Media Excellence is looking for journalists based anywhere in Africa who are motivated to understand how their country could be losing money via illicit means.
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:
- The production of stories on illicit financial flows
- Mentoring support schemes that will help produce these stories
- Intensive training on reporting illicit finance taking place online between 12 October – 06 November 2020
Journalists will not be considered to have completed the scheme until they have completed all the elements, including, for those taking part in the mentoring support scheme, the production of at least one story on illicit financial flows, and will not receive their certificates until this point.
Benefits & Format of Scheme
- Benefits:
- If selected, applicants will take part in an intensive online workshop covering illicit finance, reporting on companies, accounts and budgets, and investigative techniques.
- Applicants will propose one or more story ideas that they wish to work on within the scheme – The foundation will provide experienced journalists to help and pursue applicant’s stories right up to publication/broadcast.
- Applicants will have exclusive access to expertise through the network of illicit finance experts.
- Applicants will also have access to story ideas and editorial advice, and will be invited to share their own expertise with participants from other regions.
- Format:
- The group will meet for three live 90-minute video sessions with trainers and/or expert speakers to ask questions, share ideas, learn new skills and apply them. In addition to the 90-minute live sessions, applicants should allow for a few hours per week of self-paced work.
Funding Information
The foundation offers small grants to cover internet/data costs. If applicants selected for the mentoring scheme, the maximum story grant can provide is USD 1000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Journalists with at least two years of professional experience and fluent English.
- It is an advantage if applicants are familiar with investigative journalism, reporting on finances and/or dealing with numbers more generally, but if have a strong motivation to learn about and understand these issues then the foundation will consider application.
- Early career journalists are invited to apply.
- Applicants 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.
For more information, visit Thomson Reuters Foundation.
