Open Call: Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence

An independent committee will select the successful applicants to participate in their annual professional development programme, which provides intensive editorial support and resources to produce a long-form investigative or analytical story for publication by BIRN, its media partners, and regional media outlets.

Their published work includes features, analysis, and investigative reports presented in depth for a global audience. They prioritize strong storytelling and rigorous, on-the-ground reporting, hallmarks of high-quality magazine journalism.

Theme

• Applications are invited under this year’s theme, Resilience.

Benefits

• Selected fellows will receive:
  • A bursary of €3,000 to support their reporting
  • Intensive training and mentoring from world-class editors
  • Ongoing editorial and networking support from BIRN’s leading regional journalistic network across 14 countries of the Central and SEE region
  • An introductory seminar in Vienna (May 13-17) focused on advanced reporting and storytelling techniques
  • Additional awards ranging from €1,000 to €3,000 for the three best stories
  • Global and regional publication in English and local languages through BIRN’s media network
  • Membership in the Fellowship alumni network, fostering collaboration among journalists since 2007.

Eligible Countries

• Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia.

Eligibility Criteria

• Journalists with demonstrable professional experience are eligible to apply
• Applicants must hold citizenship or permanent residence in one of the eligible countries.

For more information, visit BIRN.