Application Deadline: October 11, 2020
Applications are open for the Thomson Reuters Foundation Reporting on Immunisation 2020 for Journalists – Tbilisi, Georgia. Thomson Reuters Foundation and the Sabin Vaccine Institute, a non-profit committed to expanding access to and uptake of vaccines globally, are conducting a three-day workshop online for journalists from Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The workshop, presented in both English and Russian, provides a unique opportunity to gain practical skills and knowledge from experienced Reuters journalists, scientists and health professionals. There will be an emphasis on producing high-impact stories for dissemination in the journalists’ own media with effective, accurate and timely content.
Attendees and experts will discuss the role of vaccines in public health, new and emerging issues, and the responsibility of media in education, raising awareness and reducing vulnerability to anti-vaccination misinformation.
Background
Public health has a direct impact on social and economic development and thus, health literacy is an investment in the future. It saves lives. The role that vaccines play in reducing the burden of disease around the world is well documented, from the eradication of smallpox to massive declines in infant mortality. Immunisation saves up to 3 million lives annually.
However, in a media age dominated by ‘fake-news’ and conspiracy theories, vaccine safety has been brought into the spotlight as the antivaccine movements find new audiences and supporters.
Traditional main-stream and social media channels need to be mobilised and inspired to effectively combat the spread of misinformation and educate their audiences on the benefits of vaccines, how they work, and the consequences of the antivaccine movement for society at large. There are a number of challenges, including the need for journalists to understand and distill often complex science, the role of key immunisation stakeholders, and the requirement to find stories that resonate with their audiences.
Benefits
• Mentoring will be available to selected applicants following the course, and all participants will receive a Thomson Reuters Foundation and Sabin Vaccine Institute certificate.
Eligibility
• Applicants must be journalists working in Georgia, Moldova, Azerbaijan or Armenia.
• If you are not full-time members of staff, you should be able to demonstrate considerable experience as a freelancer, including very recent publications with client organisations.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in journalism in their country, with a minimum of two years’ professional experience and a good level of spoken and written English or Russian.
Application
Applicants interested in this training should have ready evidence of previous work, either as links or as uploadable samples.
For more information, visit Thomson Reuters Foundation.
