MARKETS REPORTING - ENERGY

Global demand for energy and power is rising rapidly and becoming a major factor in international relations. Geopolitical changes, transport disruptions and deteriorating security all impact this market, as does the influence of the environment-protection movement. The course offers a basic understanding of traded energy instruments, including the futures contract and permits-to-pollute. Participants will chart the impact on markets of  a major political event.

Journalism skills addressed during the course

1. •News judgment
   

2. •Cultivating sources and obtaining exclusive stories
   

3. •Handling energy company news releases
   

4. •Writing authoritative energy market reports
   

5. •Covering reserves announcements
   

6. •Interviews with market participants
   

7. •Writing accurate, balanced oil industry with solid context
   

8. •Writing good leads and headlines
   

9. •Knowledge of legal dangers.
   

Financial subjects addressed during the course

1. •Demand and supply relationship in energy trading
   

2. •Futures contracts, swaps and options
   

3. •Permits to pollute
   

4. •Oil and its derivative products
   

5. •Natural gas
   

6. •Electricity trading.
   

Course Objectives 

After completing the course, participants can expect to be able to:

1. •Write with authority about oil trading patterns in principal markets
   

2. •List the geopolitics and investment climate in producing states
   

3. •Explain where to obtain good sources in the energy chain
   

4. •Outline OPEC states’ policies  
   

5. •Write about crude oil physical, futures and swaps markets
   

6. •Offer stories on refined oil products
   

7. •Cover announcements about energy stocks and supply disruptions
   

8. •Demonstrates ability to identify spot news of potential market impact
   

9. •List potential reactions to refinery fires, accidents, strikes or other disruptions
   

10. •Explain the likely impact of adverse weather on the supply chain.
    

Financial terms explained during the course

Physical, futures and options markets, oil in its various forms, sweet and sour,  cracking process and oil products, natural gas, methane, naphtha, oil majors, OPEC, nuclear power, fast breeder, utilities, netback purchasing, seasonal factors, NYMEX, green legislation, environment issues and state energy policies. 

Course Outline

Participants working in pairs write their way through a case study that traces the impact of a major political development that will impact the oil industry, especially physical and futures market prices. During the exercise, participants are introduced step by step to industry terms and, as a review, will be required to incorporate them as context into the evolving story. The pairs will switch alternately from writing market reports to covering the breaking story, improving their writing performance using feedback from experienced copy coaches. Throughout the course learning reviews require participants in facilitated discussions to extract learning points from the output of all writers, including trainer versions, and they will build a personal action plan of post-course targets.

Pre-course work

Pre-course reading, learning agreements and a short evaluation to establish existing knowledge of energy markets trading.