Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) is the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, we work to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights. We combine our unique media development and legal services to drive systemic change through news, capacity strengthening, free legal assistance, and convening initiatives.
Opportunity
The Foundation is co-delivering a programme designed to strengthen independent media in Eastern Europe. As part of this work, TRF supports the development of the journalism sector by enhancing journalism education, fostering collaboration between universities and media organisations, and creating opportunities for aspiring journalists to gain practical experience and build professional pathways into the industry.
To support this objective, we are seeking two highly experienced Digital Journalism Trainers to co-develop training materials and co-deliver a two-day in-person workshop in Chisinau, Moldova, for a cohort of practising journalists on Strengthening Digital Journalism: Editorial Excellence, Audience Engagement and Multimedia Innovation. The training is expected to take place in late October or early November 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed) and will focus on enhancing journalists’ practical skills in digital storytelling capabilities, audience-centred approaches, and the effective use of multimedia formats to produce high-quality journalism. The training can be delivered in English with TRF providing translation for some participants.
Please see ANNEXE A. INDICATIVE TRAINING AGENDA AND LEARNING OUTCOMES for additional information.
TRF reserves the right to select two trainers whose expertise is complementary and collectively meets training objectives.
Scope of Work
- Collaborate closely with the TRF project team and participating media organisations to assess training needs, identify skills gaps, and evaluate participants' existing knowledge and experience related to the training topics.
- Design and develop a comprehensive, practical, and contextually relevant Training Curriculum and supplementing materials based on the needs assessment, latest trends and the best practices in the field. The training should strengthen journalists' skills in digital journalism, including editorial decision-making, audience engagement, digital storytelling, and the effective use of multimedia formats. Materials should incorporate relevant local and international case studies, with a particular focus on the Moldovan media landscape. The training should include practical activities so that the participants would immerse into new knowledge and get new skills. Work collaboratively with the co-trainer to ensure a coherent training approach, complementary expertise, interactive mode, and effective delivery of all training sessions.
- Deliver a two-day in-person training workshop in Chisinau, Moldova, using participatory and learner-centric methodologies. The training should place a strong emphasis on practical exercises, hands-on application, peer learning, and real-world newsroom challenges.
- Contribute to the development of post-training assessments and participant feedback surveys to measure learning outcomes and training effectiveness.
- Provide post-training recommendations for participants and media organisations, identifying opportunities for further professional development and application of the new knowledge and skills into the newsroom workflow.
- Prepare and submit a final training report summarising activities delivered, participant engagement, key outcomes, feedback received, lessons learned, and recommendations for future capacity-building initiatives.
Key Deliverables
- Training needs assessment findings and recommendations.
- Training Curriculum and Agenda, agreed with TRF.
- Training materials (presentation slides, exercises, case studies and participant resources), developed accordingly to the TRF Learning Programme Design guide.
- Two-day in-person training delivered in Chisinau.
- Post-training recommendations for participants
- Contribution to post-training assessments and participant feedback surveys
- Final training report.
Essential skillset and expertise
- Extensive experience in digital journalism and newsroom practice, with a strong track record of producing, editing, or managing high-quality journalistic content across digital platforms.
- Demonstrated expertise in delivering adult learning and professional training programmes for journalists, including the design of practical, skills-based workshops and training materials.
- Strong knowledge of audience engagement strategies, SEO/GEO, digital storytelling, and multimedia journalism, including video, audio, social media, and cross-platform content production.
- Excellent understanding of journalism ethics, editorial standards, fact-checking, and verification practices, particularly in complex and rapidly evolving information environments.
- Experience working with media organisations in Eastern Europe and/or Moldova is desirable, with the ability to adapt training content to local media realities and incorporate relevant regional examples and case studies.
- Excellent written and spoken English is required. Experience delivering training through interpretation is desirable. Trainers able to deliver training in Romanian or Russian can also be considered.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with co-trainers, media organisations, and project teams.
Level of effort
The assignment is expected to require 7 consultancy days per trainer, including 5 days for preparation, training materials development, and reporting, and 2 days for the delivery of the in-person training in Chisinau.
Timeframe for consultancy
10 September – 10 November 2026
Key selection criteria
- Applications will be assessed based on relevant experience, quality of previous work, and overall suitability for the assignment.
- Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview.
- TRF reserves the right to select two trainers whose expertise is complementary and collectively best meets the training objectives.
- The proposed consultancy fee will be considered alongside experience and expertise to ensure value for money.
Applications
To apply, please submit the form by 27 August.
Thomson Reuters Foundation is an equal opportunity organisation. We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds and with marginalised identities to apply.
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Thank you for your interest in applying to become a consultant for Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) and join hundreds of leading experts in a variety of disciplines, who help us deliver our high-impact programmes to foster free, fair and informed societies.
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