THERE WILL BE INK - Initiative for Policy Dialogue

• Consumer Affairs and Information• Reporting National Budgets and Economic Policies• Covering the Central Bank, Commercial Banks and Financial Markets• Economic Integration and Regional Organizations• The International Financial System• The World Trade System, Global Economic Issues• Writing Feature StoriesThe journalists we spoke with highly praised the format and teaching methods of the IIJ program.They emphasized the value of having experienced practitioners teach at the trainings and thenetworking opportunities that the trainings provided, allowing participants to connect withjournalists and policymakers from around the world. A former journalist from Business Day praisedthe opportunity to interact with “real players in the international system,” such as members of theUN, WTO and IMF.This journalist said that the IIJ seeks out the strongest journalists at the trainings and mentors them,which significantly sets it apart from other training organizations, and has made him a top businessjournalist. Because of the IIJ’s mentoring, he was invited to attend other trainings around the world,where he was able to further expand his network of contacts. “The more you travel, the more youare valued in Nigeria because you bring the global perspective,” he said. In 2006, he was able toattend a WTO conference in Hong Kong though the IIJ, which he covered for Business Day inNigeria. Business Day would never have had the resources to send a reporter to Hong Kong, he said.Moreover, the IIJ provides much-needed financial support for trainees to attend.– 7 –