Research Fellowships for Journalists, Berlin

The International Networking for Journalists awards every year, 10 to 15 fellowships to journalists from Eastern and Western Europe and the United States who want to spend two semesters engaging in research in Berlin. Since 1999, the program of the European Journalism-Fellowships (EJF) at the International Center for Journalism of the Freie Universitaet Berlin has become established as an important institution for journalists at the European level.

Deadline: 1/11/2010
Open to: journalists from Europe and US
Stipend: between 800 and 1300 a month

Programm

The programme (October 2011 – July 2012) will enable participants to network with professional colleagues from Eastern and Western Europe and the United States and provide them with the opportunity to take a two-semester leave from their professional positions and spend a sabbatical year at the Freie Universität Berlin widening their knowledge while pursuing their research project.

Deepening journalistic skills
Each fellow pursues a custom-made programme that is organized around a specific project defined by the applicant: an individual journalistic research project, the results of which will later be published. The objective of studies in Berlin is to broaden professional knowledge and specialized expertise while building upon previous journalistic experience. Fellows are free to take advantage of course offerings at the Berlin Universities, and to participate in events organized by other scholarly and cultural institutions in the German capital. At the same time, journalists have an opportunity to meet colleagues from Eastern and Western Europe and the United States. For more information about the programm, click here.

Eligibility

  • Applicants should be between 25 and 40 years old, and must have a good working knowledge of German.
  • Fellows agree to spend two academic semesters (from October to July) as journalists in residence at Freie Universität Berlin, and to attend courses and lectures at Berlin’s universities (however, university degrees cannot be reached by attending the EJF-programme).
  • Fellows also pursue their own research projects while attending weekly “Jours fixes” of the International Center for Journalism.
  • Fellows also agree not to work during their residencies at the International Center for Journalism, whether for their current employers or for other organizations. If they have received job leaves, they also agree to return to their jobs after completing the programme.
  • You can apply if you are a journalist from Europe or the United States of America. We are sorry to say that employees in the field of Public Relations or science of Journalism can not apply for a fellowship.
  • The target group of the EJF-programme are highly qualified journalists with occupational success. In the future they will work in key positions in the media sector – e.g. reporter, correspondent or leading editor – and will have influence on the journalistic quality of media products.

Click here for more information.

Scholarships

Selected applicants receive scholarships, designed to cover living expenses in Berlin while fellows realize their individual research and study projects.

Junior Fellowship: for journalists from Central and Eastern Europe with about five years of professional experience. Junior Fellows receive a monthly stipend of between 800 and 1,000 Euros for duration of ten months.
Standard Fellowship: endowed with a monthly stipend of between 1,100 and 1,500 Euros – depending on the level of professional experience (at least 5 years) for the duration of ten months.
Superior Fellowship of the Berlin State Parliament Foundation: One outstanding journalist with a PhD degree from one of the former Allied Nations of the Second World War (CIS-States, France, Great Britain, USA) may be awarded an extraordinary scholarship from the Berlin State Parliament Foundation (a monthly stipend of 1,300 Euros plus accomodation) for the duration of 12 months. Applicants for this scholarship must submit required documents in German: application form, CV and an exposé for the research project. In addition, applicants must submit a review of their exposé by an expert scientist or professor (German or English language).

Application

Journalists interested in the programme should apply directly to the European Journalism-Fellowships Programme in Berlin.
To apply for fellowships, candidates must submit the following typewritten documents in either German or English:

  • a completed application form
  • a curriculum vitae
  • copies of academic diplomas, certificates etc.
  • 2 letters of recommendation (in English or German)
  • a selection of articles, books, or other samples of applicant’s work
  • proof of German language skills (by DAAD or Goethe-Institute)
  • an exposé summarizing the applicant’s individual research project (3 to 5 pages)
  • review of exposé by an academic expert or professor- only for Superior Fellowship of the Berlin State Parliament Foundation candidates

Applications via fax or e-mail cannot be accepted.

Deadline for the application process is November 1st, 2010.

Please notice that this is a receipt deadline, not a postmark deadline.

Contact:
European Journalism-Fellowships
International Center for Journalism
Freie Universität Berlin
Otto-von-Simson-Str. 3
D – 14195 Berlin
Germany

Official website

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