* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Thomson Reuters Foundation conducted a five-day business and finance reporting course in Beijing attended by journalists from Chinese media organizations such as Xinhua, China Daily and CCTV.
Held at Tsinghua University, a long-time partner with the Foundation in Chinese media training, the July 2-6 workshop attracted 20 journalists from Chinese print, TV and radio. A few of the delegates traveled from Shanghai to attend.
Built around simulated news scenarios, the course focused on aspects of economic and financial news reporting such as covering inflation, IPOs and corporate earnings. Participants found the writing exercises suitably challenging and relevant. Sessions on the legal dangers and ethical challenges faced by journalists also generated lively discussion.
The workshop was conducted by Thomson Reuters Asia financial specialist training editor Sebastian Tong.
China economics correspondent Koh Guiqing was copy coach on the writing exercises.
The participants spent an afternoon at the Reuters bureau in Beijing where China chief economics correspondent Nick Edwards explained how Reuters’ coverage of the world’s second-biggest economy involved not only text reporters but also mobilized journalists working in fields such as polling, TV and photography.
Nick, a veteran at covering financial crises from Asia to Europe, also gave a thought-provoking presentation on the euro zone crisis and its impact on China.
Since 2005, more than 500 Chinese journalists have received training through Foundation workshops that have covered a wide scope of news reporting, including health, economy, sports, and photography.
