Media and Comms training - Business and Human Rights for CSOs - Thailand

What’s it about?

Background

The media and civil society landscape in Thailand is evolving, especially in the realm of Responsible Business and Human Rights (RBHR) initiatives. Despite this progress, journalists and civil society organizations (CSOs) face a complex array of challenges. Those focusing on business and human rights, such as labour rights and corporate accountability, often navigate legal and political pressures that can complicate investigative reporting and advocacy efforts. This environment may lead to cautious editorial practices and selective coverage. Similarly, CSOs, which are crucial in advancing human rights, encounter constraints like funding challenges and the need to manage political sensitivities carefully.

Since 2020, the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) has been supporting journalists and CSOs in Thailand, enhancing their reporting and advocacy on key issues such as labour rights, migration, and corporate accountability. With the current training course, TRF continues its mission to promote responsible business practices through capacity-building, aiming to uphold and advance business and human rights principles.

This training is your opportunity to sharpen your practical skills and enhance collaboration with media and CSOs. It focuses on improving how you report and advocate for Business and Human Rights (BHR), with a special emphasis on labour rights. You’ll receive hands-on, skills-based learning that you can apply immediately—no fluff, just the tools you need.

We understand your time is valuable, and with most of you able to attend only one external training per year, we’ve designed this course to fit your schedule. You’ll leave with tangible outcomes, like publishable stories and communication strategies. Plus, you’ll engage in purposeful, activity-based collaborations, ensuring that the connections you make are meaningful and impactful.

TRF Business and Human Rights training – a dual-track approach

TRF is hosting the “Business and Human Rights Training in Thailand” for journalists and civil society organizations (CSOs) from 23 to 25 March 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. This training is a structured learning initiative designed to cater to two distinct groups with intersecting goals:

Journalists: This track is tailored to enhance the skills of journalists, focusing on effectively and sensitively covering labour rights issues.

CSO Representatives: This track targets CSO actors involved in labour rights advocacy and communication, aiming to strengthen their strategies to support advocacy efforts and media engagement.

Joint Networking Sessions: These sessions bring both groups together to facilitate cross-sector synergies, allowing journalists and advocates to exchange insights, generate potential story ideas, and forge meaningful connections.

Training Details and Participation Requirements

This training offers a series of live, interactive sessions designed to enhance skills and foster collaboration among journalists and CSOs. Over three days, participants will engage in focused learning and networking opportunities.

Schedule: The training runs for three full days, 23-25 March 2026, from 9am to 5pm each day.

Focus Areas: Journalists will refine reporting skills, with a specific investigative and solution journalism focus; while CSOs will enhance strategic communication abilities, especially in their communication with the media.

Collaboration Day: On the third day, both groups will collaborate, applying their skills and expanding their networks. Participants will also reflect on the power dynamics between CSOs and the media and explore better collaboration. Language: The course will be conducted in English, with Thai simultaneous translation, if required by participants.

Preparation: Participants are encouraged to bring a story idea to develop during the course.

Mentorship Opportunity: Selected participants from both groups will receive one-on-one mentoring for three months.
Story grant for journalists: Selected journalists will also receive a story grant to support the development and publication of a new story on Business and Human Rights.

Who should apply?

CSOs practitioners working in the labour rights space in Malaysia. They will lead on the external communication of their organisation. Applicants for this training should be responsible for external communication, media management, advocacy, or campaigns, e.g. Communications Officers and Managers, Advocacy Leads, Campaign Managers, or Programme staff who regularly interact with the media.

Applicants must be fluent in English. Communication in English is essential. However, simultaneous translation will be provided if required by participants.

What’s in it for you

Strategic Communication Skills: Gain expertise in crafting strategic messages, specifically for the media, aligned with your organizational mission, using specific tools and models to structure communications effectively.
Data Storytelling: Develop skills in using data to tell compelling stories, employing specific techniques to make statistics meaningful and memorable.
Legal Risk Management: Hone your understanding on the legal landscape and learn strategies to mitigate risks associated with advocating for workers and their rights.
Interview Preparedness: Improve your ability to communicate with journalists, understanding their role and audience to deliver key messages clearly and concisely during interviews as well as learning to translate a complex topic into a story journalists are interested in.
Mentorship Opportunity: After the training, apply for a three-month mentorship to develop a detailed Strategic Comms and Advocacy Plan, leveraging insights gained from the training to enhance your organization’s impact.
Content Marketing: Learn to utilize content marketing to raise awareness, gain support, and educate audiences on key issues, focusing on relevance, clarity, and human interest to engage effectively.
Advocacy and Networking: Enhance your ability to advocate for B+HR issues by building networks with journalists and other stakeholders, facilitating greater media engagement and public awareness.
Stakeholder Engagement: Use a stakeholder engagement framework to identify and prioritize stakeholders, enhancing your ability to engage them effectively and broaden the conversation on important issues.
Collaborative Learning Environment: Engage in an inclusive and respectful learning environment, sharing experiences and insights to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation.