Deadline: 20 June 2016
New Diplomacy is currently inviting applications for its Independent Journalism Fellowship with an aim to raise standards of journalism covering the post-Soviet space, in particular the Eastern Partnership countries. This will be achieved by a programme of mentoring journalists from Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan or Belarus, including placements of four journalism fellows in new EU member states (e.g. The Baltic states and Visegrad Four countries) to work with leading broadcast or print media and engage also with independent, non-profit organizations working on the post-Soviet space (human rights organizations, independent media associations and think-tanks).
Each fellow will work with a mentor (a media expert based in the host country, either directly working for the hosting media organization, or an expert able to liaise with the host organization) for a four-month period of project co-operation and mentoring. Within this four-month period, the fellow will spend up to five weeks in the office of the hosting media organization.
Objectives
- To raise the standards of talented news reporters from Eastern Partnership countries through placements with leading broadcast and print media in EU counties, to strengthen mutual understanding of the challenges facing the media in the Eastern Partnership countries, and to improve EU countries’ media reporting of events in the Eastern Partnership countries and Russia
- To formulate and promote common standards and practices in the Eastern Partnership countries concerning public service broadcasting, concerning policies to curb propaganda, and concerning overall standards of independent news reporting
- To increase interlinkages between leading or emerging media outlets and individual journalists in Eastern Partnership countries with counterparts in other Eastern Partnership countries and in EU member countries (e.g. Baltics, Visegrad Four), and further adoption of shared standards and co-operation on news gathering and content sharing.
Funding Information
- For each fellow, New Diplomacy will cover international travel to the host country and back, and in addition up to a maximum of US$ 3,000 in expenses, covering local travel, visa costs where necessary, and subsistence and accommodation for the five weeks spent in the host organization.
- Each mentor (or host organization if the mentor is provided by the host organization) will receive US$ 1,800 in mentoring fees.
- Each host organisation will receive US$ 500 in overhead costs for hosting the fellow.
- The host organization or mentor will also receive US$ 300 for the venue/equipment costs of organizing the roundtable event.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications are invited from journalists from Eastern Partnership countries, or journalists working for independent or public service media outlets in the Eastern Partnership countries (below mentioned countries).
- Freelance journalists are also welcome to apply.
How to Apply
Applications must include ALL of the following materials (the letter of application and CV must be in English, although other documentation can be in English, in Russian or in the language of communication in the planned host country via email given on the website.
- Letter of application (1-2 pages) and CV – these should summarize the fellows’ experience to date, in particular in the proposed area of reporting/research (set out in item 4 below) – in ENGLISH
- Letter of support by supervisor at applicant’s own institution (or of editor/publisher in the case of freelance journalist).
- Names and contact details of mentor and host media institution in the EU for the five-week fellowship. The application should either provide a support letter from a host institution or provide contact details of a potential mentor within the host organization/host country.
Eligible Countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine.
For more information, please visit New Diplomacy’s Independent Journalism Fellowship.