The Thomson Foundation has a highly-regarded reputation for working in areas of conflict and tension. In the summer of 2004, tensions rose between Georgia and South Ossetia, with shelling on both sides and increasingly heated coverage by media on both sides.
The OSCE Mission to Georgia collaborated with the British Embassy in Tbilisi to facilitate an eight-day training programme for a group of Georgian and Ossetian journalists. Theoretical and practical sessions addressed techniques for fair and accurate reporting, helping to build confidence between key journalists from both groups. Some of them had never met before, while others had had no contact since the previous summer's events. During the programme, mixed groups tackled assignments and issues together. Practical exercises included interviewing people in the streets of Tskhinvali as well as a background briefing with representatives of the joint peacekeeping forces.