Crash Course for Journalists on Blockchain and Crypto Held in Berlin

Berlin, September 13 (OurVoice): The Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) organised a training course designed to deepen the media’s understanding of the opportunities and the risks of blockchain and cryptocurrency known as Web3 technologies for journalists from around Europe.
This new and exclusive programme kickstarts with a two-day in-person regional workshop in Berlin on September 12 and 13. It is supposed to be followed by online Masterclasses and mentoring sessions to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills to report on the broader implications of blockchain technology, beyond its financial applications.
The new programme is part of the Foundation’s growing focus on new and emerging technologies. The training course is a first for the Foundation, and will serve as a pilot to generate valuable insight as it looks to scale this area of the work in the coming years. 
The training course tried to enhance the portfolio of reporting by growing the understanding of both the advantages and risks of blockchain in fields such as humanitarian aid, gaming, healthcare, sustainability, voting, migration, and ownership of online data, among others.
Experts in the sessions opined, the media plays a crucial role in articulating the implications of this rapidly-evolving technology to its audiences, and the need and demand for training in this field will only increase.
In this interactive and comprehensive training course, 14 journalists from UK, Spain and Germany experienced practical exercises in setting up Web3 wallet address, exploring Web3 application in real-world contexts such as supply chain transparency. They developed a comprehensive understanding of blockchain technology and its applications beyond finance and explored the intersection of blockchain and climate, human rights, and other critical issues, and identify innovative story angles. 
Emma Thomasson, a British journalist, consultant and trainer based in Germany, Karam Alhamad, a blockchain innovator and international development practitioner in the intersection of technology and public policy, Paul William Grundy, Head of Corporate Partnerships of Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), Yasmin Jacqueline Elgouze, Interim Project Manager and Enrique Anarte Lazo, TikTok Lead at the TRF conducted different technical sessions. Renowned international lawyer and academic Paul Beckett presented his views and analyis on the impacts of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies being decentralised ledger technology in the economic system in the so-called tax havens and other nation states.
As a part of the training session, a panel discussion was held in the afternoon on Thursday with experts and policy advocates of Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies Mariana de la Roche Wills, Tara Merk and Alex Bird to explore both the positives and challenges of blockchain and crypto. In a statement Mariana de la Roche Wills mentioned, it was encouraging to see journalists showing genuine interest in understanding the technology beyond ist financial aspects and exploring its real-world applications and impact.