This is an opportunity provided by the Building the Capacity of Journalists in Asia and the Pacific programme: Find out more

Please note: this program is only open to Filipino journalists based in the Philippines.

This training program from Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), offers Filipino journalists an opportunity to expand their expertise in reporting about social inclusion amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The course will draw on contemporary best practices of good reporting and writing, and will also focus on skills for online journalism and emerging media.

The intensive, online program will run over five consecutive days, each with four hours of learning, observation, and discussion. Participants will also be expected to conduct independent research between sessions.

The training will be delivered to two cohorts on the weeks of 15-19 November 2021 and 22-26 November 2021. Please indicate your preference in the application form via the APPLY button.

On completion of the course, successful participants will receive a certificate from Thomson Reuters Foundation and Asian Development Bank.

Reporting on Social Inclusion Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen existing socioeconomic inequalities, the need for inclusive development policies is more pressing than ever. Countries also strive to meet their sustainable development goals by 2030, and a key consideration is the degree of inclusion felt by all members of society and their access to economic, social and political resources, as well as opportunities for participation in any agenda-setting that is impacting their lives. Such social inclusion sees empowerment of all groups of people irrespective of their age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion or economic or any other status. The more people feel empowered, the more likely they engage and help accelerate development policies, leading to more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable societies.

The media has a pivotal role to play in raising awareness, putting social inclusion on the policy and public agendas, giving a voice to the marginalized and disadvantaged, and debunking myths and stereotypes that breed discrimination and exclusion.

This program will support journalists to:

• Understand underlying issues that impact social inclusivity in the Philippines during the pandemic
• Report more confidently, accurately, and ethically on the topic, exploring various angles, including government programs and non-government initiatives
• Write balanced stories, find good sources online and learn interviewing skills for sensitive topics
• Explore discrimination, divide, and disparity during COVID-19, and what it means for the future for the youth
• Identify global challenges of social inequality and financial inclusion and understand how they are inextricably linked
• Explore ‘aspirations and desperations’ in rural communities under the new lens of COVID-19
• Learn the Solutions Journalism investigative approach and use case studies to highlight some responses in the region
• Integrate data visualization techniques to improve their storytelling on social inclusion
• Find news stories on social media such as TikTok and learn digital marketing techniques to boost the reach of their stories
• Discuss the role of social entrepreneurs, especially women, in inclusive growth

Who Can Apply

Applicants must be Filipino journalists working in the Philippines, and must be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in journalism in the Philippines, with a minimum of two years’ professional experience and a good level of spoken and written English.

If they are not full-time members of staff, applicants should be able to demonstrate considerable experience as a freelancer, including very recent publications with client organizations.

Applicants will need to have access to reliable internet capable of providing multiple hours of video calls. They should also have access to a computer from which to attend the training.

Meet Our Experts

Please complete the application form at the link below and fill in this brief pre-training questionnaire. You will be required to submit samples of recent work, either as links or documents.

If you have difficulty applying, please email trfmedia@thomsonreuters.com  with the title of the course in the subject line.