Thomson Reuters Foundation leads second week of election reporting training in Bhutan

A second group of Bhutanese journalists arrived at the Bhutan Media Institute in Thimphu on Monday, May 21, to join a 5-day course on election reporting led by Thomson Reuters Foundation trainer Belinda Goldsmith. The practical, hands-on course aims to prepare a growing number of new, young journalists in Bhutan for the tiny Himalayan nation’s second democratic election in March 2013.

There was only 3 newspapers at the time of the first general election in 2008 but this has expanded to 12, prompting the need for more training for journalists just entering the profession.

The course focuses on the role of the media in a democratic election, the election and political processes in Bhutan, ethical and legal dangers that can arise in election coverage, and sharpening writing skills for election reporting. The course includes guest speakers such as the Chief Election Commissioner Kunzang Wangdi, MP Tshering Penjor from the National Assembly, and a senior local journalist who covered the first national election in 2008.

Journalists attending the second course on election reporting this month include Jigme Wangchuk from the Bhutan Observer, Tashi Tangzoon from The Journalist, Sanga Choden and Chimi Delkar from Bhutan Today, Yeshey Dema and Namgay Tshoki from Kuensel, Thinley Wangmo and Sonam Choki from the Bhutanese, Namkhai Norbu from the Bhutan Times, Chimi Eden, Karwang Yohzen and Ugyen Lhendup from local newspapers in the Bhutanese language of dzongkha.