Background Bursaries: EUR 2000, Travel costs: up to EUR 2000
The Balkan news media are increasingly required to report on complex reform issues with regional and European dimensions. Journalists, however, are under-prepared to tackle these, lacking resources for appropriate training and foreign travel. To encourage regional networking among journalists and advance balanced coverage of topics that are central to the region as well as to the EU, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and ERSTE Foundation have initiated a fellowship programme in cooperation with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN.
Program
Ten fellows from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia will be selected on the basis of applications submitted. The fellowship will run from April until December 2013 and three winners shall be selected during the final seminar held in late November.
Fellows are expected during this period to produce one in-depth journalistic article of no more than 2,000 words, based on the research proposal they submit. Editorial guidance and control shall be provided by BIRN.
Award
The selection committee judges the quality of the reports and awards prizes to three fellows. The top prize-winner will win €4,000, the second will receive €3,000 and the third €1,000.
Eligibility
- Individuals from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia with demonstrable
journalistic experience are eligible to apply for the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence. Applicants should be proficient in English
(speaking, reading and comprehension), although reports may be written in local languages.
- Applicants must be able to dedicate adequate time to the fellowship, in terms of research, trips, attending the opening and closing seminars
(one in Vienna and one in the region), writing and attending publicity events. To that end, any necessary permission from the applicant’s
employer to participate in the fellowship should be secured in advance.
- The theme of the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence 2013 is INTEGRITY. The submitted project proposal must refer to this theme
and demonstrate an original approach to researching and reporting an important aspect of the topic. The project should also seek to
enhance information and dialogue among the countries of south-eastern Europe, SEE, and between SEE and the EU.
- Appropriate research should be conducted in order to produce a 2,000 word article. The article should feature fresh information and
interviews, and be analytical in nature.
- The report may be written in a local language or English, at the fellows’ discretion. Editorial support will NOT be available in the local
language, but in English.
- Applicants’ proposals should refer primarily to the country where they normally reside, but include plans to conduct useful research in one
other country in the region and one EU member state. Fellows should meet with their counterparts when visiting another country in the
region.
Budget
Bursaries: EUR 2000
Travel costs: EUR 2000
Fellow prizes: 1st place - EUR 4000, 2nd place - EUR 3000, 3rd place - EUR 1000
Deadline: 5 March 2013
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