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

Please note: This programme is open to English-speaking journalists who are nationals of and based in Sri Lanka.

This training programme from Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), offers journalists an opportunity to expand their expertise in reporting about humanitarian crises and disasters triggered by natural hazards. Drawing on contemporary best practices of reporting and writing, the course will focus on how to cover a crisis or disaster while working with multiple and complex sources, and using mobile and online journalism skills.

The training will be delivered in person in Colombo, Sri Lanka, over three days, beginning on 4 December and ending on 6 December. The training will include expert presentations and instructor-facilitated discussions using desk-based scenarios and original stories from humanitarian crises and disasters. Story production support will also be provided during the training.

Reporting on Crises and Disasters

During crises and disasters, the media’s role in covering, explaining and providing accurate news and information to the public is critical. This workshop will review the main challenges and techniques involved in covering international-scale crises and disasters, using Reuters and other global news organisations as a model. We will concentrate on disasters triggered by natural hazards and humanitarian crises of all sorts, and the special problems that can arise in covering them. Through briefings, practical writing exercises against deadlines and forays into multimedia reporting, the course will help journalists improve their skills and recognise problem areas, within an interactive group environment. It will explore the logistical challenges of reporting in crisis zones and look at ways to serve the information needs of disaster-affected populations as well as wider audiences.

This programme will help journalists to:

1.     Find, verify, and share reliable information for disaster-affected communities in a breaking news situation involving a crisis or disaster.

2.     Identify and verify reliable news sources in an emergency.

3.     Structure a fast-moving ongoing story for local and international audiences.

4.     Write clear, simple, and editorially balanced copy under pressure.

5.     Edit stories about a crisis or disaster.

6.     Conduct informative, accurate interviews with emergency relief services and disaster-affected individuals.

7.     Engage effectively with audiences and sources.

8.     Apply a ‘solutions journalism’ approach to crisis and disaster journalism and use this approach to identify and produce follow-up stories about disaster recovery.

Experienced Thomson Reuters Foundation trainers will help participants to further enhance their skills in writing stories that are both powerful and accurate, and that explore the framing of issues of humanitarian crises and natural disasters. There will additionally be expert speakers from the region to give their valuable insights into best practices. 

The programme contents may be modified after assessing participants’ needs.

Who Can Apply

Applicants must be journalists who are nationals of and working in Sri Lanka. They must be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in journalism, with a minimum of two years’ professional experience and a good level of spoken and written English. Female journalists are highly encouraged to apply to this training.

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

All applicants who work for a news outlet as a full-time employee will also need a letter of support from their editors.

Course Logistics

The intensive in- person programme will run over three consecutive days, from 09:00 – 17:00 (Colombo, Sri Lanka time). There will be instructor-facilitated group sessions with a lead trainer and a co-trainer, interspersed with individual or group tasks. Participants will also hear from subject matter experts on a range of issues related to working in complex humanitarian crises or disaster triggered by natural hazards. During the three days of training, participants will be able to share their story ideas with the TRF trainers to receive guidance and feedback.

On completion of the course, successful participants will receive a certificate from TRF and ADB.

Submissions

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.

Slots are limited for this course. Organizers will review applications and will select participants. 

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