Deadline: 14-Jun-21
Applications are now open for the Transatlantic Media Fellowship 2021 to support well-researched transatlantic journalism.
Transatlantic Media Fellowships are coming back to the real world! As Germany is headed into elections this fall, and as the Biden administration is changing the course of US domestic and foreign policy, they’re thrilled to see that travel seems to be possible after a year of digital-only fellowships in 2020.
In this transition period, they accept applications for either travel-based or virtual research and reporting.
As in previous years, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC, will give a select number of journalists from the United States, Canada, and Germany the opportunity for on-the-ground reporting relevant to the foundation’s work on climate & energy policy, democracy & social policy, or technology & digital policy.
They will not be able to offer a specific fellowship in the field of foreign and security policy this year, but plan to include this area again in 2022.
Issues Areas
- Climate & Energy Policy
- Applicants in this category should pitch stories on climate and energy policy/issues in the United States, Canada, or in EU member states. Possible topics include:
- The Green New Deal / The European Green Deal
- Green stimulus packages
- Phase-out of fossil fuels and nuclear power
- Transformation towards renewable energy
- Sustainable transportation
- Environmental justice
- Methane emissions
- Climate change litigation
- Applicants in this category should pitch stories on climate and energy policy/issues in the United States, Canada, or in EU member states. Possible topics include:
- Democracy & Social Policy
- Applicants in this category should pitch stories on challenges to democracy in the United States, Canada or in EU member states. Possible topics include:
- The upcoming German federal election in September 2021
- Challenges to democracy, such as radicalization and anti-democratic movements
- Migration (climate-induced migration is of particular interest)
- LGBTQ, gender equality and racial justice
- Debates on colonialism and historical reconciliation (Vergangenheitsaufarbeitung)
- US society and transatlantic relations in a post-Trump era
- Social, democratic and economic reforms under the Biden administration
- Applicants in this category should pitch stories on challenges to democracy in the United States, Canada or in EU member states. Possible topics include:
- Technology & Digital Policy
- Applicants in this category should pitch stories on technology and digital policy in North America (United States and/or Canada) or in EU member states. Possible topics include:
- EU, US or transatlantic digital governance debates (e.g. platform regulation, privacy, data flows)
- Debates on disinformation and misinformation online
- EU, US or transatlantic debates over digital innovation and competition with China
- Digital technologies and sustainability
- Public interest technology and open data
- Ethical debates about the use of data and digital technologies
- Applicants in this category should pitch stories on technology and digital policy in North America (United States and/or Canada) or in EU member states. Possible topics include:
What they offer?
- A stipend of $3,500 for an on-the-ground fellowship (including transatlantic travel); OR
- A stipend of $1,500 for a digital fellowship (virtual interviews, no travel)
Eligibility Criteria
- They seek journalists with a strong track record of publications who offer new perspectives on transatlantic policy debates. Fellowships are open to journalists in any medium.
- Applicants should be:
- based in the United States or Canada and demonstrate a strong motivation for engaging in research and reporting about Europe; OR
- based in Germany and demonstrate a strong motivation for engaging in research and reporting about the United States or Canada
- They will give special consideration to journalists
- from regional or local media outlets
- from diverse backgrounds who can offer lesser-heard perspectives
- who may not otherwise have the opportunity to conduct transatlantic research
- Journalists are responsible for their travel and visa arrangements.
What’s Expected
- Format: Reporting can be in the form of one longer, investigative piece, two to three shorter articles, or multimedia content (i.e., podcasts, videos, or photo essays).
- Timeline: Fellows are expected to complete their travel and/or research by September 30 and publish their content in any quality media outlet by the end of the calendar year. At a minimum, fellows must publish their pieces on their website.
- Publication: Fellows must be able to either guarantee the publication of their pieces or to provide us with documentation of a completed story ready for publication.
- Social media: Fellows are expected to engage with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC over Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook to document their travels and to promote their publications.
For more information, visit https://us.boell.org/categories/media-fellowships