Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) is the corporate charity of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services provider. Through our wide range of programmes and initiatives, which use the combined power of journalism and the law, we work to advance media freedom, support human rights, and foster more inclusive economies.
Leveraging our expertise and global network, we collaborate with media organisations and journalists to enhance independent, accurate and ethical reporting, in line with our Reuters’ Trust principles.
Our Media Freedom work focuses on strengthening the quality of journalism, improving media ethics and regulation, increasing media sustainability, and exploring and shaping the future of the profession. We do this by working with technologists, academic and industry experts to help media face new and emerging opportunities and challenges from a position of strength and help them build better and more sustainable journalism for tomorrow.
Opportunity
TRF has been awarded funds to deliver the “Eastern Neighbourhood Counter Disinformation” programme, working alongside BBC Media Action.
Within the programme, TRF will be responsible for strengthening journalism education in Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine, to improve both practical skills training and routes to employment for young journalists and students.
We are seeking a highly experienced journalism consultant with practical experience in war and conflict journalism to co-develop and deliver a university course curriculum on conflict journalism to a cohort of undergraduate journalism students. The Journalism consultant will work alongside a pedagogical expert, TRF staff and a partner university in Ukraine to co-develop this course, which should incorporate a blend of practical, skills-based learning with theoretical concepts in conflict journalism.
The consultant is also expected to work with the university in Ukraine on an advisory basis to support the initial delivery of the curriculum and some follow-up, so faculty members can continue to deliver the course independently in the future.
Please note that this is a short-term consultancy, with an expected start date in March and an end date in December 2024.
Objectives
The purpose of this assignment is to co-develop and co-deliver a curriculum on Conflict Journalism to a cohort of undergraduate journalism students. Delivery would start from September 2024 onwards, with the aim of building the capacity of faculty at TRF’s partner University in Ukraine to continue delivering this independently in the future.
Scope of Work
1. The consultant will work alongside the university, TRF and a pedagogical expert to develop a needs assessment for the course and carry out the needs assessment.
2. The consultant will define the course's learning objectives, topics and learning framework. It is expected that the course will ensure that students:
- gain practical skills in conflict reporting, particularly regarding video and text editing.
- comprehend what role the media play in covering conflict and the influence of the Internet on the coverage of military conflicts.
- understand the risks, ethical considerations and opportunities associated with conflict reporting and demonstrate a consideration of these in their own work, including safety and security
- understand the practicalities of covering conflicts in Ukraine including accreditation processes and legal considerations affecting journalists’ work learn how to cover potential crimes, report from hot spots and work as a fixer.
- gain practical skills in OSINT especially for digital newsgathering and fact-checking.
3. The consultant will work with a pedagogical expert and university faculty member to co-design and co-develop an undergraduate course on Conflict Journalism. This entails providing practical input and journalism subject-matter knowledge to develop the learning materials, which will include theoretical frameworks, literature, online resources, and case-studies and exercises.
4. The consultant will provide recommendations on the additional support and/or subscriptions required to enable delivery of the module.
5. The consultant will deliver an induction training on the curriculum to the university teaching staff as required by the partner University.
Deliverables
Below is an ideal breakdown of deadlines and deliverables.
- Initial assessment of the needs and capacities of the University partner(s) - by 1st April 2024
- In coordination with a pedagogical expert, submit an initial proposed curriculum – by 15th May 2024.
- In coordination with a pedagogical expert, present of a revised curriculum to TRF and benefitting University by 21st May 2024.
- Deliver required course learning materials/content and conduct curriculum training and mentorship sessions with teaching staff in June-August 2024.
- Provide ongoing monitoring and support to the initial delivery of the course for University faculty - September 2024-December 2024
Essential Skillsets and Expertise
- A proven track-record of covering conflicts as a journalist (print, television, multimedia) preferably for an international media outlet.
- Experience working with academic institutions and/or pedagogical experts to develop practical, skills-based curricula.
- Familiarity of the cultural and political context in Ukraine and previous experience working and/or living in the country.
- Knowledge of international journalism Editorial Standards and Ethical Guidelines.
- Proven experience inputting into developing and launching at least 2 successful training courses in the relevant topic for professionals/students.
- An understanding of the risks and ethical implications of covering international conflicts, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Experience and strong network with local media outlets at the regional level.
- Excellent time management and organisational skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams.
Desired Skills
- Experience working with academic institutions to develop practical, skills-based courses.
- Ukrainian language skills would be an asset.
As part of the application, you will be asked to submit:
- An updated curriculum vitae (CV) detailing relevant experience and qualifications.
- A cover letter/brief (no more than 2 pages) describing your relevant experience, your understanding of the assignment, the tools and methodology you would use to deliver the outputs.
- An example of your previous work that is most similar to that described in the project scope.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis Please note, the deadline for applications is 15 March 12:00 GMT. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Thomson Reuters Foundation is an equal opportunity organisation. We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds and with marginalised identities to apply.
Please note, all information provided will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and is provided on a secure online platform. By completing the online application, you agree with the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s terms and conditions and privacy policy.