Thomson Reuters Foundation 2021 Reporting on Illicit Finance in Africa workshop for African Journalists (Funded)

Application Deadline: November 23rd 2021

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is looking for journalists based across Africa who want to understand how their countries are losing money to illicit practices.

The Wealth of Nations program is a long-term commitment, and participating journalists must take into account all elements of the program, by signing an agreement to this effect. These elements include:

• participation in an intensive online training course dedicated to the investigation of illicit financial flows from November 29 to December 16, 2021. 
• The production of reports on illicit financial flows.
• A mentoring program contributing to the production of these reports, which will take place after the online course (exact dates to be confirmed).

As a condition of participating in the program and obtaining the certificate at the end of the training, journalists must take into account all the elements, including the production of at least one report on illicit financial flows for participants in the program. mentoring.

ELIGIBILITY

Profiles sought

• Journalists with at least two years of professional experience and fluent in French
• It would be best if you were familiar with investigative journalism, fundraising reporting and / or dealing with numbers in general. However, we will consider your application if you do not meet this criterion, but are highly motivated to learn and understand these questions. Journalists at the start of their career are invited to apply.
• You must be able to devote a lot of time to reporting on illicit financial flows.
• Freelancers and staff journalists can apply. Journalists working for a news organization must first obtain the agreement of their editor-in-chief. Freelancers must provide proof that their production will be accepted by one or more media organizations.
• Journalists working in all types of media are invited to apply (print, online, radio or television).
• Journalists must be based in Africa and work for at least one African media.
• They must be fluent in English.

Benefits of the program

• If you are selected, you will participate in an intensive online training course on illicit financial flows, reporting on companies, accounts and budgets, as well as investigative techniques.
• You will come up with one or more story ideas that you want to make as part of the program. We will provide you with experienced journalists to help you carry out your reports until their publication / broadcast.
• You will have exclusive access to expertise through our network of illicit financing 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.

Funding

TRF offer small grants to cover internet / data costs. Participants who have attended at least 90% of the trainings will receive the data grant and a certificate of participation in the program.
In case you are selected for the mentoring program, the maximum grant we can provide for reporting is $ 700. 
Please note that grants awarded vary depending on the anticipated resources required to complete the story. Cost proposals not accompanied by a detailed explanation will be rejected.

Format:
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the three weeks of training, participants must be able to commit to participating in 4 hours of live video sessions per day with trainers and / or speakers Experts at asking questions, sharing ideas, learning new skills and applying them. In addition to the live sessions, participants should schedule a few hours of offline reading per week or homework to complete on time.

SUBMISSIONS

• Two examples of productions already carried out. TV / radio journalists can submit their scripts and a summary. 
  • If examples of productions already produced are in a foreign language, please provide the French translation (if these examples are available online, please provide a web link for the web page to be translated).
• A letter from your editor in which he consents to your participation and confirms that he will publish any reporting produced as part of the program

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2022 Reporting on Illicit Finance in Africa workshop