Explore our projects across the globe 
At Thomson Foundation, we believe in empowering media and communications teams with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive. Our training courses are designed to meet the needs of professionals at all levels, whether you're looking to sharpen your digital journalism skills, master AI tools, or enhance your communication strategies. Below, you'll find an overview of our top courses, each tailored to help you stay ahead in the ever-evolving media landscape.
AI - What It Is, How It Works, and What You Need to Know
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its underlying principles. By the end, participants will have a solid understanding of AI concepts, traditional and generative, its practical applications, and the ethical considerations surrounding its implementation.
This course focuses on the ethical implications of using AI tools, including issues around bias, transparency, and accountability. It covers cover practical guidelines for using AI in newsgathering, content creation, and data analysis, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity and public trust.
Participants learn how to integrate AI technologies into their journalistic workflows to create compelling content efficiently. Through practical exercises and hands-on training, attendees will develop practical skills in mobile journalism and explore AI tools tailored for journalistic applications.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies are transforming the media production industry. Learn how to leverage AI tools to create high-quality, cost-effective, and efficient media content. The course covers AI applications across the entire production workflow, from idea creation to publication management.
A practical training course providing hands-on experience with AI tools focusing on image generation and video production. Learn how to harness the power of top AI image generators and discover tools for efficient video production, including pre-editing, sound enhancement, editing, transcription, translation, and publication management.
Our course, “Stop the Scroll,” equips you with powerful AI-driven strategies to break through the clutter and engage your audience effectively in today's fast-paced crowded digital landscape. Learn how AI can generate arresting, photo-realistic images and striking video content, traditionally requiring Hollywood budgets, now created on laptops in minutes.
Explore the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) in election campaigns and learn how to effectively use AI tools and detect AI-generated threats such as deep fakes and synthetic media. Journalists will engage in hands-on activities and real-world scenarios to understand the use of AI in campaign strategies, identify threats, dis and misinformation and develop countermeasures.
Designed for data journalists and investigative reporters wanting to use AI in their analysis and reporting. It covers essential concepts, practical applications, and decision-making strategies and explains how to address risks such as privacy issues, bias, and hallucinations.
This is a course primarily to build confidence in copy editing skills, but it also explores a range of engaging writing styles and storytelling techniques. Learn how to sub-edit stories in a more analytical and critical way and at speed. There is an emphasis on accuracy and clarity.
Journalists will learn how to combine text, audio, video, and infographics to create rich multimedia content. The training covers the entire production process, from storyboarding to publishing, with a focus on audience engagement.
The right platform for the right audience. Explore social media platforms, identify and analyse the language, style and content. This course is about building a brand and audience and dealing with the online conversation.
Social media is an essential and powerful tool for every journalist to harness. This workshop reveals how to create impactful content that drives conversation and amplifies their voice by crafting engaging, shareable stories in different formats, vertical and horizontal, that resonate with online audiences across multiple platforms.
Thomson has led the way in training in mobile journalism across the globe. The smartphone is a content creator’s essential and versatile tool. It is the camera, editing tool and publisher in everyone’s pocket. This practical workshop enables participants to create visual and audio content using mobile phone technology for multimedia platforms including social media. There is an emphasis on storytelling to engage audiences.
Journalists need to be data savvy in an age of abundant information. This workshop introduces the tools, techniques and approaches needed to interrogate and analyse data at scale to find the stories that matter. Learn how to find, analyse, and present data to tell compelling stories. It is complemented with a separate data visualisation workshop which enables audiences to better understand the results.
This workshop looks at the relationship between good storytelling and data visualisation. It explores the opportunities of engaging audiences with complicated data by impactful and arresting visualisations. It brings an understanding of information visualisation techniques, the power of motion graphics, how to be adaptable to the tools that are available, to tell the story, and entertain through innovation.
The course shows journalists how to develop advanced investigative journalism skills, from identifying story leads to gathering evidence and conducting in-depth interviews. It examines the importance of protecting sources and the journalists own digital safety are explored as are legal and ethical considerations specific to investigative reporting.
A set of workshops which can be taken separately or as a series which explore the skills needed to investigate the biggest issue facing the planet, climate change. The workshops examine how and where to source information, how to cover environmental stories in a way which engage audiences and how to stay safe covering what has become one of the most dangerous beats for journalists.
Disinformation is one of the biggest challenges facing journalists in unravelling fact from fiction to produce trusted and accurate content. This workshop explores the techniques and strategies to verify content using open-source material and tools.
Elections are organised amidst a sea of mis and disinformation. It’s crucial for journalists to spot false information and provide trusted and accurate information. This workshop looks at verification methods but also examines why people believe the lies and conspiracy theories and explores innovative approaches such as prebunking which help to stop their spread.
An examination of how media representation can influence people’s perceptions of gender. The workshop explores both the presentation and portrayal of women and girls by media organisations and the role of women as media professionals. Through analysis of media content, participants will be encouraged to develop positive approaches to narratives reflecting the lives and interests of women.
This workshop examines the potential role of the media in countering identity-based discrimination and prejudice. It draws on best practice in messaging to counter “hate speech” and prejudice. Participants will examine the role of all forms of media in countering prejudice and negative attitudes and consider ways of reclaiming the narrative through media portrayal.
Discover the power of audio. This workshop equips journalists with the essential skills to produce compelling audio content, from conceptualising ideas to mastering editing techniques. Journalists will learn how to craft engaging narratives, optimise sound quality and distribute their podcasts to reach wider audiences.
This advanced course is tailored to the unique demands of producing films for digital platforms. It covers scriptwriting for web series and short films, pre-production, digital cinematography, production techniques, and post-production with an emphasis on online distribution and digital marketing strategies.
An introduction to all aspects of video production and the different platforms available for the visual medium. It is designed to take participants through the various processes now available for video production from the use of video cameras and desktop editing to mobile phones and editing with Apps.
A course for stills photographers to develop an understanding of how to tell news stories through their images. As well as covering technical skills and composition, participants will be trained in how to operate in the field and cope with challenging situations. The responsible and ethical use of AI tools is also featured.
Learn how to enhance the quality and engagement of news bulletins through innovative techniques and workflows. This course considers every aspect of planning, producing and outputting news bulletins including writing tailored to the audience, running order construction and handling breaking news.
A comprehensive course covering the fundamentals of broadcast news production, from story development and scripting to camera work and editing. Participants gain hands-on experience in creating compelling news segments for television and online platforms.
Compiling and production of long form and rolling news programmes. A course aimed at journalists working for television news channels which explores the production cycle from planning to broadcast. It examines content and production techniques, handling a breaking news story and television gallery output.
Create studio-based talk shows that engage audiences and spark debates within legal limits. Areas covered include; identifying topics for debate and booking relevant guests, ensuring interactive debates with live audiences and controlling the discussion and output from the television gallery.
An advanced writing and production skills course for experienced news producers working on bulletins and longer form news programmes. This incorporates writing and creative production techniques along with the use of AI but also briefing presenters and guest. Ethical standards including those related to AI are also covered.
The basics of TV directing news bulletin and longer form programme. The course covers handling the challenges of leading crews and technicians coupled with the skills to manage live broadcasts and recordings. Learn how to craft compelling visual narratives through strategic use of shots, lighting and set and ensure smooth operations.
This course explores the challenges faced by reporters tackling on air interviews and live reports on location and in the studio. Areas covered include preparation and writing of reports along with reporting live from difficult or dangerous environments.
To stay calm in a fast-paced breaking news story, to be the trusted voice delivering the news, to be the one to watch. This presenter’s course guides participants on the best techniques to engage audiences. It includes all aspects of studio and outside broadcast presenting including interactive video walls.
How to conduct effective interviews that prompt informative and engaging responses. Participants will learn strategies for preparing questions, building rapport with interviewees, and handling challenging situations during interviews.
This advanced course focuses on the complexities of traditional television and film production. It
covers advanced scriptwriting, pre-production strategies, cinematography, production techniques,
and post-production with an emphasis on delivery and distribution for television and theatrical
release.
These are examples of the type of workshops available. This list is not exhaustive and content can be adapted and combined to suit the needs of clients and organisations.
Storytelling is an essential tool for organisations to engage and inspire their audiences. No longer reliant on traditional media to tell your story, you will learn how to craft compelling narratives and generate content that is easy to share and remember.
Time is short in business and with multiple information sources vying for people’s attention, your words, be they in a brief email or a detailed report, need to engage your reader instantly. Your writing needs to be concise, to the point but also persuasive. Getting the tone right is crucial. This workshop will teach you how to use language in a professional setting and how to tailor your documents for maximum impact.
A two-phase process where a crisis communications playbook is developed with senior leaders ahead of a detailed workshop with the communications team where teams use the playbook to guide them in reacting to crisis scenarios.
This training is combined with media handling skills. An understanding of how to handle the media in a responsible and transparent way is crucial when dealing with crises but it also provides a context in which to examine the structure of media organisations.
This workshop identifies the distinct needs of the internal communications process within an organisation. It looks at the development of a communication strategy and embraces innovative systems of communicating with staff. Increasingly there are synergies and alignments between internal and external communications and this programme will recognise and reflect this.
Giving an interview to the media can be an intimidating prospect. In those few moments, you are the voice of your organisation. There can be huge benefits to this: it is a chance for you to control the narrative and promote the work, experience, and value of what you and your colleagues achieve. This workshop aims to give you the confidence, command, and capability to tell your story through a media interview: TV, audio or online.
Knowing how to use social media to tell the stories that illustrate an organisation’s impact worldwide is an essential skill for those working in communications. Talking in the right way, to the right people, on the right platform to convey key messages can help promote the work and build a brand and profile among the global audience. This workshop will explore those key themes and the tactical use of social media.
Using the correct language, style and imagery for the right platform is key for growing an engaged audience across the many diverse social media platforms. This practical course reveals how to create impactful content that drives conversation and amplifies their voice by crafting engaging, shareable stories in different formats, vertical and horizontal, that resonate with online audiences.
Speechwriters play a vital role by helping people in positions of authority communicate their vision. An effective speechwriter adapts their style to the voice of the speaker; they convey complex ideas and information in a concise, compelling way. This course will help speechwriters manage the relationship with the speaker, understand the power of writing for a particular style, and appreciate the preparation needed for effective delivery.
Businesses employ highly qualified individuals whose expertise needs to be communicated to the wider workforce, and the wider world. That means complex ideas and proposals require simplicity. Choosing the right words and tone avoids ambiguity and conveys clear meaning. This workshop gives participants time to concentrate, develop and practise new skills to help convey complex information effectively and confidently through a succinct, direct form of written English that showcases their work and that of their organisation and informs their reader.
Presentation skills are an essential part of any business. Getting it right gives you the chance to showcase your knowledge, personality and ability to communicate effectively. With the right words and a confident delivery, you can convey your meaning with clarity and authority. This workshop will help you present yourself and your message in a professional, competent manner whether in person or over virtual platforms such as Zoom.
Podcasts provide an excellent opportunity for an organisation to communicate with a wider audience as well as its own staff. To do it well involves a mixture of strategic thinking, creativity, and practical skills. This workshop will explore those skills and explain the building blocks needed to make a successful podcast. It will help participants understand the nature of audio as a medium and develop the practical skills of recording and editing sound.
Job interviews are now less about psychometric tests and more about candidates demonstrating their potential. These training sessions will equip executives with the tools and insights required to recruit, promote and retain high-level staff. It considers the latest trends in recruitment, drawing on best practises, key strategies, legal requirements and the increasing reliance on AI.
Workplace mediation stands as a powerful tool for conflict resolution, offering a structured and impartial approach to resolving disputes while preserving relationships, promoting mutual understanding and avoiding expensive legal action. This training will equip senior managers with the necessary skills.
These are examples of the type of workshops available. This list is not exhaustive and content can be adapted and combined to suit the needs of clients and organisations.