Legal Consultant (Media) At Thomson Reuters Foundation

About Thomson Reuters Foundation

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, registered in the UK and the USA, we work to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights. Through news, media development, free legal assistance and convening initiatives, we combine our unique media and legal services to drive systemic change. We use the combined power of journalism and the law to build global awareness of critical issues faced by humanity, inspire collective leadership and help shape a prosperous world where no one is left behind.

TrustLaw

TrustLaw is the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono legal service. The service helps high-impact NGOs and social enterprises, including media organisations, to grow, streamline their operations and navigate complex laws and regulations by connecting them with free legal assistance from the best law firms and corporate legal teams around the world. We also deliver groundbreaking legal research on key social and policy issues that our members use to support their advocacy and law reform efforts, and we deliver innovative capacity-building workshops for practical guidance on legal issues.

Building Resilient Media Ecosystems in Africa (BRIMEA)

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is implementing a two-year project seeking to enable more resilient media ecosystems in Kenya, South Africa and Zambia through a combination of legal and media interventions. The project will seek to help journalists and newsrooms with legal and other forms of media-related support to strengthen their editorial independence and financial sustainability. We shall develop legal research and provide legal support, while also building the capacity of reporters and media organisations, both conventional and digital/social media.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is looking for legal consultants with expertise in media law and issues related to media freedom based in each of the three countries. The consultant will prepare tools and resources and lead capacity-building workshops for lawyers, journalists, newsrooms and media organisations. Subjects covered in training include media freedom legal framework, defamation, regulation of the media, licensing, structuring, criminal law, strategic litigation and SLAPPs.

Scope of work and expected outputs

The scope of work and expected outputs/deliverables may include the following:

1. Preparation of legal content, resources and tools, including legal modules for lawyers, journalists, newsrooms and media organisations;
2. Training lawyers on key legal media issues of priority under the project to build their capacity to serve journalists, newsrooms and media organisations;
3. Training journalists and newsrooms on key legal issues which highlight how media freedom is undermined;
4. Administering pre and post feedback surveys;
5. Conducting training review with the TRF project team;
6. Feedback to the project team and specific lessons learnt, wins and way to improve the approach;
7. Drafting reports of the trainings.

Required expertise and qualifications

• An LLB from a recognised University. An advanced law degree, media, human rights or any other relevant postgraduate qualification will be an added advantage.
• At least seven years’ experience working as a lawyer in media law and/or human rights.
• A strong understanding of international standards on press freedom, efforts to undermine free and open information environments, and/or the media law/policy landscape in East and/or Southern Africa.
• Experience of working in the Kenyan, Zambian and/or South African legal systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in undertaking research and writing, especially in the area of media freedom.
• Demonstrated experience and skills in conducting trainings.
• Relevant regional and international experience will be an added advantage.
• Ability to travel when/if required.