Reporting on Corporate Governance in India July 2009

The Global Corporate Governance Forum and Reuters Foundation have launched a cooperative program designed to build capacities among journalists in reporting on issues related to corporate governance. Based on the view that “better companies make better societies,” the objective is to strengthen journalists’ reporting and investigative skills in light of this unique ability to disseminate information on corporate governance to the business community and to the wider reading public, and to make readers aware of company activities that can have significant impact on society.

With the help from the National Institute of Securities Market (NISM), which was set up by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the advancement of training and research to support securities market development, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a not-for-profit industry-managed organization, the Forum launched two media training workshops in Mumbai on July 22, 2009 and in New Delhi on July 25, 2009 for almost 40 journalists from India’s general and business print, electronic, and online media to enhance their knowledge and reporting of corporate governance issues such as transparency and disclosure.

Pratip Kar, advisor to IFC’s corporate governance initiative in India and former Securities and Exchange Board of India Executive Director, feels “strengthening corporate governance has come into renewed focus the world over after the global financial crisis and in India after the Satyam episode.”

Sessions on governance best practices, accounting and reporting principles, successful examples of investigative business journalism and writing exercises helped senior journalists deepen understanding and sharpen reporting on stories behind the numbers.

“The media plays an important role in raising public awareness and supporting enforcement,” said Daiki Suemitsu, First Secretary, Finance, Embassy of Japan, who joined the program in Delhi. Faculty for the day-long training program included senior representation from Infosys and Deloitte and Touche in India.

For the workshops' agenda, please click here.

For details of other media training workshops, please click here or contact Gene Spiro at esprio@ifc.org.