This is an opportunity provided by the Combatting Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery programme: Find out more
The global trade in human beings is bigger today than at any time in history. The United Nations estimates that at least 40.3 million worldwide are victims of modern slavery, and has said the crime generates $150 billion a year in illegal profits.
As a country which witnessed rapid economic growth over the past years, Malaysia has become a key country of destination for labour migration and faced global scrutiny amid widespread reports of exploitation and slave labour in sectors from rubber and electronics to palm oil. Despite these challenges, there is still insufficient knowledge about the magnitude of the crisis, or the available solutions.
Journalists have a vital and powerful role in unpacking this complex issue and producing impactful reporting that is nuanced, engaging, and compelling.
This July, Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) is introducing its new and revamped journalism training “Reporting on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery – A Solutions Approach” The 5-day online training led by a veteran journalist will provide a deep dive into the complex topic from a Solutions Journalism angle, to provide fresh approaches to stories that are more accessible to audiences. The programme will empower participants with the knowledge and skills to produce engaging and impactful reporting through solutions journalism and data visualization and connect them to experts in the field working against these issues.
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WHAT YOU WILL GAIN
After this training, you will have gained the tools and know-how to confidently report on the subject and produce compelling stories on modern slavery in Malaysia in a fresh and novel approach that engages more audiences.
Participants will also pitch story proposals at the end of the course and compete for a few spots to be mentored on the stories they pitched and receive story grants (£300 each) for their work.
Participants who complete the training by attending all training days will be awarded a Thomson Reuters Foundation certificate of completion.
Make sure you do not miss this opportunity and apply before the July 3 deadline.
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WHO CAN APPLY
- Applicants must be full-time journalists or regular contributors to media organisations in Malaysia.
- Applicants must be fluent in English. The course will be run in English.
- Applicants must have a minimum of three years’ professional experience.
- Applicants must have access to a minimum internet speed of 8Mb/second. (You can check the speed of your device by logging from it on www.speedtest.net).
- Applicants need access to a computer to participate in the training; participation from a mobile or smart phone will not be possible.
- Applicants must be able to commit the full 4 hours for the 5 days of training plus 1-2 hours each day for homework and course preparation.
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PROGRAMME
TRF's new training curriculum offers the newest and most relevant topics in Malaysia’s modern slavery. The training will take a solutions journalism approach to provide a new method to break down and report on this complex topic.
Participants will learn about the inter-related causes of human trafficking and modern slavery and understand the role of big-business and problematic supply chains. They will hear directly from and network with experts in the field working on solutions both at the policy level and those working closely with victims. There will be discussions on the ethics, risks, and legal dangers of reporting on this sensitive issue and training on how to interact sensitively with traumatised survivors.
TRF’s world-class consultants, who are experienced international and regional journalists, will facilitate the online interactive sessions.
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WORKSHOP FORMAT
Dates: July 5th to 9th (every day)
Time: 9:00-13:00 (including breaks)
- A series of live, interactive sessions will be conducted over Zoom and take place over five half-days during the week of July 5 to allow busy journalists to juggle the learning with their reporting duties. Each of the live sessions will last four hours in the morning with a mix of online and offline activities and breaks.
- Participants should be able to commit to four hours for each live session plus 1-2 hours of offline reading or assignments done in their own time on those days or between sessions.
- The training will be run in English. Fluency in English is required.
- Participants are also strongly encouraged to come with a story idea they can develop throughout the training.
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MEET YOUR TRAINERS
Kavita Chandran is a former financial journalist who has worked in newsrooms across the United States and Asia. She worked with Reuters News as a Training Editor in India and as FrontPage Editor with the Asia Top News team in Singapore. Prior to Reuters, Kavita was an editor at Bloomberg, New York. Today, she is based in Singapore and continues to write for various publications including CNBC Asia. She teaches journalism to undergraduate students at the Kaplan Institute, and Media Communications to MBA students at S.P. Jain Global School of Management.
Malcolm Foster has been a journalist for more than 25 years with AP, Reuters and Bloomberg, working in the United States, Japan and Thailand. As a reporter, editor and newsroom manager, he’s covered everything from politics and business to social issues, religion and natural disasters. With AP, he’s had stints in Bangkok with as Asia business editor and later as top story editor. As Tokyo bureau chief, he led AP’s award-winning coverage of the 2011 tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster. He was also deputy bureau chief in Tokyo with Reuters. The past two years, he’s been freelancing, painting (and selling his art online) and teaching online classes.
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APPLICATION PROCESS AND SUBMISSIONS
When applying you will be asked to upload the following documents - please have these ready:
- 2 relevant work samples (maximum file size 5 MB) – in English if possible. For stories not in English, please include a 250-word English summary about the story.
- Please note you will be asked to submit one or more story ideas within your application. The migration story has already been well covered so we will look for journalists with ideas that approach the issue from a new angle. We will not share your ideas with anyone.
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If you have any difficulties applying, please email moe.sasaki@thomsonreuters.com.
Photo: REUTERS/ Bazuki Muhammad