UK: Reporters Without Borders launches online training course for exiled journalists
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has launched a new online training course for exiled journalists, in partnership with the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). The free e-learning course, which covers areas like UK media law, public affairs, writing styles and an introduction to the UK media industry, will help journalists forced to relocate to continue reporting.
“Journalists forced into exile by repressive regimes have a vital role to play in continuing to report on their countries of origin, which might otherwise become information black holes. But to do so, they face a raft of challenges, including the struggle to navigate an industry which may look very different to journalism back home. We hope that this course will help journalists resettling in the UK to find their feet, so that they can find personal and professional fulfilment, and keep up their crucial reporting for audiences at home.”
The course - launched this week - was developed as part of a project to help journalists who fled Hong Kong because of the crackdown on independent media there, many of whom have resettled in Britain. Covering everything from public affairs to public perception of the trade, it delivers the essential information newly arrived journalists need to understand British journalism, putting them in a much stronger position to secure work and remain in journalism.
It was developed in partnership with the NCTJ, a charity which delivers the UK’s leading training scheme for journalists and will be hosted in a private section of the NCTJ’s Journalism Skills Academy e-learning platform.
Laura Adams, head of the NCTJ’s Journalism Skills Academy, said: “The training focuses on specific areas which are unique to the UK media industry, such as media law and public affairs. We also wanted to provide a flavour of newsroom culture in this country and useful guidance on how to find work in the UK. We hope this will be a highly impactful training course which will support journalists from across the globe.”
If you are an international journalist who would benefit from this course, contact [email protected]
The UK is ranked 23rd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
