Media Training Program on Corporate Governance Reporting

"The workshop has taught me that corporate governance is wider than I thought. It is about the way people act: using leadership, diligence, acting transparently and efficiently, among others qualities, to build better companies," said Cristina Sevillano del Aguila, workshop participant from Stakeholders Magazine (Peru), after completing the first day of the Media Training workshop.


Overview

The Forum launched its Media Training Program in 2007 to build up journalists' capacity to report on corporate governance matters. This program has three objectives: to raise public awareness of corporate governance through the media; to improve journalists' investigative skills on corporate governance issues; and, to encourage them to promote corporate governance best practices in emerging markets. There are four training components:

Approaching editors: Journalists discuss how they pitch their editors to publish stories about corporate governance and their strategies for building good relationships with editors

Investigative skills: Journalists share their experiences in investigating corporate governance issues, including their key information sources

Reading annual reports: Accounting experts teach participants how to interpret financial and non-financial information in company’s reports

Corporate governance basics: Speakers from national or international investment organizations share their perspectives and insights on the importance of corporate governance in investment decision-making

Partnerships with Thomson Reuters and AFP

The Forum launched the program in partnership with Thomson Reuters Foundation in 2007. In April 2009, the AFP Foundation also became a partner. Both foundations have been helping to bring journalists’ point of view to the program, and attract experienced international and local trainers for each workshop.


Workshop Locations

1. Serbia, October 2007
2. Egypt, April 2008
3. India, July 2008
4. Kazakhstan, October 2008
5. Zambia, March 2009
6. India, July 2009
7. Chile, Latin America regional workshop, January 2010
8. Brazil, January 2010
9, Vietnam, March 2010
10. Jordan, MENA regional workshop, May 2010
11. Bangladesh, June 2010
12. India, January 2011
13. Malawi, March 2011
14. Vietnam, March 2011


For more information about this program, please contact Gene Spiro at Espiro@ifc.org


Global Journalists Network

In early 2009, the Forum started a Global Journalists Network on Facebook called “Reporting on Corporate Governance.” This network provides a communications vehicle for those interested in corporate governance reporting, and includes training updates. Participants are encouraged to “meet” their peers across the world and connect with corporate governance experts, including the Forum’s Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG). The Facebook page is also a channel for participants to provide comments and suggestions for the Forum’s Corporate Governance Media Toolkit, which is scheduled for publication in 2011. Please see guidance to join our Facebook group.


Media Toolkit Production

The Forum is finalizing a media toolkit on corporate governance reporting, drawing on the experiences it gained through 11 workshops. The toolkit will not only cover corporate governance topics such as shareholder engagement and pension funds, but also case studies from different regions on investigative journalism and corporate governance.


Forum's Publications

The Pen Is Mightier than the Sword — if Properly Aimed. This SmartLesson shows how to effectively organize a corporate governance training for journalists, based on the experience of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Thomson Reuters Foundation and Forum Train Journalists to Report on Corporate Governance Issues, December 2009. This Lessons Learned article discusses the Forum's experience in running the program and maintaining a global network of journalists to provide them with continuous support after the workshops.

News and Corporate Governance: What Dow Jones and Reuters teach us about Stewardship? In this Public Sector Opinion paper, Donald Nordberg, a former senior editorial executive at Reuters who also worked as a consultant for Dow Jones, explores the governance of these two media giants.


Useful Links for Reporters

A Reporters Handbook from the Thomson Reuters Foundation - Good general reporting guide. 
 
Motley Fool - Excellent source of information, background, discussion boards and articles for business journalists.
 
Business news resources

Transparency International - Some useful policy papers on corporate governance and anti-corruption.