In any democracy it is vital that citizens have access to accurate, informed and impartial information about their governance and – at election time – about their constituency candidates, party policies and campaign progress.  Reporters need to understand the electoral process and to cover it fairly. But in countries in transition, after a period of undemocratic rule, journalists often need additional help to build their knowledge and skills in this area.  Thomson Reuters Foundation can provide such guidance and has on occasion been invited to provide special training and mentoring in the lead-up to – and during – national elections.     

The instructors have first-hand experience of election reporting and can help participants formulate a coverage plan for forthcoming polls, so that they can make sure they address all the main issues and report fairly on all the contenders.  As with most Foundation courses, the workshops combine lectures, and visits from electoral experts, with hands-on practical exercises.

 When applying to take part in a course, please first read the following notes:

Course costs
The charge payable by each attendee, to cover the cost of tuition, any field trips, and materials, is shown in the details provided for each course. Travel and accommodation arrangements and costs are usually the responsibility of the attendee but occasionally Thomson Reuters Foundation is able to make special provision for individuals.

Funding
In some circumstances Thomson Reuters Foundation provides grants or bursaries to cover some or all costs for certain attendees if they are from the developing world or are nationals of a country in economic or political transition.  The degree of funding provided will depend on the financial status of the applicant's employer.  For instance, if the employer is a major media organisation we would expect it to cover the applicant's travel and accommodation costs related to attendance on the course, while the Foundation would cover the course tuition fees.