
A group of Nepalese journalists were immersed in U.S. markets, global economics and business reporting during a week-long training course in New York on the last week of January.
Thomson Reuters Foundation delivered a five-day Writing Business News course to eight Nepalese editors and reporters at the Thomson Reuters headquarters in New York where they were able to learn the basic story structure, sourcing and accuracy, guidelines followed by Thomson Reuters journalists worldwide.
Trainees gained critical knowledge of the U.S. Federal Reserve system and its role and operations through a guided tour of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York not far from the New York Stock Exchange in New York's financial district. A highlight of the tour was a trip five levels underground where $240 billion in gold bars owned by global central banks are stored under heavy security.
News events enhanced the learning as the Fed's Federal Open Market Committee issued that afternoon its first policy announcement of the year about the U.S. economy. The coverage of this breaking story was monitored by the group. Later that evening, U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a State of the Union address.
Through a series of presentations and practical exercises, the journalists enhanced their knowledge of the economic cycle, emerging markets, commodities, stock market reports, and the use of data and percentages to enliven business stories. The participants were also introduced to bonds coverage and trained in commodity and stock market reporting by Jane Light, Editorial Training Manager of the Americas and Manuela Badawy, Global Investment Correspondent. Trainees also gained valuable reporting and sourcing tips and story ideas from Fed Correspondent Kristina Cooke, commodities editor Alden Bentley and power and electricity correspondent Scott Disavino.
The trainees also visited the United Nations headquarters and were able to improve their understanding of the global financial crisis and the role of emerging economies. The Nepalese editors and reporters said they intended to share the acquired knowledge with their colleagues upon their return.

