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Thomson helps launch new Nigerian daily newspaper
Dan MasonWith just three weeks to go before launch, Thomson Foundation consultant
CHARLES McGHEE arrived in Abuja to support the birth of a new daily newspaper
Thomson assignments are challenging at the best of times, but when they are carried out at short notice against seemingly impossible deadlines they become even more ‘interesting’ into the bargain.
“You’ve got three weeks,” said Thomson Foundation Head of Training, Tim Rogers, “to help redesign a weekly newspaper in Nigeria and convert it into a national daily. Oh, and by the way, can you leave next weekend?”
You’ve got to be joking, right? Well, no, actually. In the event, departure was delayed by a week and then by another couple of days because of a visa wrangle, but I arrived in Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja, with effectively 16 days to complete the above assignment for The Peoples Daily (without an apostrophe) newspaper. Click to Continue »
Why Copenhagen’s UN climate change summit seems so far away from the realities of life in Nigeria
Dan MasonFamilies living in stilted homes around the lagoons of Lagos may be on the front line of climate change, but persuading Nigerian journalists that the UN Copenhagen conference can make a real difference is a tough sell.
Leading environment journalist and Thomson Foundation consultant TIM HIRSCH reports
Emerging from Lagos airport into the smoggy morning heat, the drive across the lagoon to the island housing the smarter parts of the city brought home the vulnerability of this megacity to the impacts of climate change.
At the lagoon’s edge, whole neighbourhoods of rickety houses built on stilts and connected by perilous walkways stretch far out into the water.
It won’t take much sea level rise to make refugees out of these people. Click to Continue »
Russell Lyne: An inspiration to the world of journalism
Dan MasonPlease leave your tribute to, or share a memory of, Russell Lyne by completing the comments form on this page
The Thomson Foundation regrets to announce that Russell Lyne, former Head of Regional Development, has died aged 65.
Russell first worked for the Foundation as a trainer in 1995, later joining full time as a project manager and training consultant.
His work took him to South Africa, Botswana, India, Vietnam, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Bahrain, Qatar, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Kasakhstan, Romania and Bulgaria. Widely respected wherever he went, Russell’s engaging personality, warmth and professionalism are remembered with particular fondness in Eastern Europen by the many journalists he personally trained. Click to Continue »
- November 19th, 2009
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