Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence 2025

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) are awarding 10 fellowships to journalists from Central and South Eastern Europe with compelling story ideas that require on-the-ground reporting, in-depth research, significant funding, and dedicated editorial support.

Applications are invited under this year’s theme, Resilience. An independent committee will select the successful applicants to participate in their annual professional development programme, providing 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.

Objectives

• Provide selected journalists with the necessary support to produce long-form investigative or analytical stories.
• Enhance reporting skills with expert training and mentoring from world-class editors.
• Foster collaboration among journalists across Central and South Eastern Europe through BIRN’s media network.
• Empower journalists to explore resilience in the context of European societies’ evolving political and social landscapes.

Eligibility Criteria

• Journalists with demonstrable professional experience from the following countries:
• Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland,
• Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia.
• Applicants must hold citizenship or permanent residence in one of the eligible countries.
• Strong reporting experience and the ability to produce in-depth stories are required.

Deadline: Applications are open until March 18, 2025.

For more information and to apply, click here.