CFAs: Crossing Borders – Journalism Competition

After forming teams, members of the winning team will participate in a study visit to France to explore media institutions and network with journalism professionals.

The competition is organized as part of the Balkan Voices 2 project, led by CFI and supported by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. This initiative aims to promote freedom of expression and media literacy across the Western Balkans.

The competition encourages young journalism students from the region to produce impactful, cross-border stories that highlight cooperation and the path toward European integration. It seeks to foster collaboration between journalists while amplifying critical themes such as civic engagement, diversity, and democratic values. Participants will have the chance to win an exciting prize, a trip to France, and to contribute to a shared vision of a connected and integrated Western Balkans.

Theme

• Participants will be organized into transnational teams of six, with one representative from each Balkan country. Teams will collaborate to produce journalistic content on the theme “Coverage of European Topics and the Berlin Process.”

Objectives

• The journalistic competition has the following objectives:
  • To encourage journalism students to develop a nuanced understanding of the European integration process as it pertains to the Balkan region, with a specific focus on the Berlin Process.
  • To foster cross-border collaboration and the exchange of perspectives among young journalists from different Balkan countries.
  • To produce high-quality, innovative journalistic content that explores the challenges, opportunities, and realities of European integration in the Balkans.
  • To raise awareness among Balkan youth about the importance of European integration and the role of journalism in promoting informed public discourse on this subject.

Benefits

• Members of the top-performing team will participate in a study visit to France to explore media institutions and network with journalism professionals. All expenses will be fully covered, including accommodation, meals (based on the per diem rate), and both international (flight) and local transportation. Personal expenses will not be included.

Competition Process

• The competition consists of two main stages: an individual selection phase and a collaborative team phase. Participants first apply individually and are selected based on their motivation, journalistic skills, teamwork experience, and knowledge of European integration topics. Once selected, they join transnational teams to produce collaborative journalistic content.

Eligible Countries

• Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

Eligibility Criteria

• This competition is open to journalism students who meet the following criteria:
  • Students or recent graduates in journalism from the Western Balkans who are passionate about European integration and cross-border collaboration.
  • Are under the age of 30 at the time of application.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in English at a C1 level or higher.

Selection Criteria

• The selection process will be conducted by a jury of experts, who will evaluate applications based on a pre-defined scoring rubric. A total of 30 participants will be selected.

Application Requirements

• Participants must submit the following documents to complete their application:
  • Motivation Letter or Video: a written letter (maximum two pages) or a video (maximum two minutes) explaining why they want to participate, their interest in European topics, and what they hope to contribute to the team.
  • An updated CV outlining their academic and professional background in journalism.
  • A Portfolio of work: at least one example of previous journalistic work, such as articles, podcasts, or videos.
  • Proof of English Proficiency (optional): a certificate or evidence of their English language skills, if available.
  • A signed commitment Letter (a document (template provided) affirming the availability for the competition timeline and their willingness to adhere to the competition rules.)

For more information, visit CFI Media Development.