Opinion Journalism curriculum development expert

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. The influence of evolving technologies on the practice of journalism and the wider media ecosystem have been profound. Thomson Reuters Foundation is committed to supporting journalists to withstand and counter the risks this poses, and to take advantage of innovation and new approaches. 

Opportunity  

The Foundation has been awarded funds to deliver the “Eastern Neighbourhood Counter Disinformation” programme.The programme's overall objective is to strengthen independent media outlets and impartial reporting in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, with the intention of reducing the impact of misinformation and disinformation in those countries. Within the programme, TRF is responsible for strengthening university journalism curricula at select universities in Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine and providing professional skills-based training and internship placements to strengthen young journalists' and graduating students’ practical expertise and routes to employment. 

To this end, we are seeking an Opinion Journalism curriculum development expert to work closely with TRF, its partners and other consultants to develop an academic course for a university partner in Moldova. 

This is a short-term consultancy, the consultant is expected to work up to 20 days in the period of October 2024 – April 2025. 
  
Scope of Work  

The purpose of this assignment is to develop a high-quality curriculum covering the aspects of op-ed and commentary writing for journalism students which will be taught from January 2025 onwards at TRFs partner University in Moldova independently. 

For this, the expert will: 

• Provide a review of the current curriculum on the subject, ensuring that it addresses learning objectives, has relevant teaching methods and is congruent with the wider journalism programme. 

• In collaboration with the benefitting partner and (if needed) learning and development expert, define learning objectives, topics and learning framework of the course. It is expected that the course will ensure that  

a) Students gain an extensive understanding of Op-ed journalism, its application and implications, along with strong sense of ethical considerations. 

b) Students develop critical thinking skills when writing the op-eds, understand the limitations and purposes of the pieces and how they align with the editorial policies and standards.  

• Develop the practical handbook for the course that corresponds with the university accreditation needs and ensures that the most innovative approaches and learning techniques are captured in the teaching delivery.  

• Supply the curricula with relevant reading and/or writing materials and/or tools (subject to further discussions with TRF). 

• 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.   

1. Create a work plan for the duration of consultancy (October 2024).  

2. Finalise an Op-Ed Journalism course materials (by December 2024)  

3. Deliver an induction for university faculty (January 2025). 

4. Provide an ongoing support to the university while they deliver the course for the first time (by March 2025). 

Essential Skillsets and Expertise  

• Experience in teaching opinion journalism at graduate and/or postgraduate levels. 

• Extensive journalism experience of writing and publishing op-eds as a journalist; 

• A track record of designing, developing, facilitating and evaluating journalism academic programmes in a variety of formats (online, in-person and hybrid) for different audiences and contexts 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams. 

• Excellent time management and organisational skills.   

Desired Skills 

• An up-to-date understanding of the trends and specifics of journalism in Central and Eastern European contexts. 

• A knowledge of Romanian would be an advantage, though it is not a requirement. 

As part of the application, you will be asked to submit:   

1. An updated curriculum vitae (CV) detailing relevant experience and qualifications.   
2. 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.   
3. 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 5 October 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.