Digital Rights and Freedoms – Fellowship 2024

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) is announcing an open call for the Digital Rights and Freedoms Journalist Fellowship 2024, designed to mentor journalists and media outlets in producing investigative stories that highlight the critical challenges of digital rights violations.

Awarded journalists will have a unique opportunity to collaborate closely with BIRN editors and their specialised digital rights team. As part of the fellowship, you will gain access to BIRN’s comprehensive monitoring database along with other valuable resources to support your investigative work.

This collaboration is designed to equip you with the tools and knowledge necessary to delve deep into digital rights issues and produce impactful journalism.

Fellowship overview

In an era where digital rights and freedoms are under increasing threat, the need for vigilant, informed and courageous journalism has never been more crucial. From the misuse of algorithms and the spread of hate speech to breaches of privacy and unchecked surveillance, digital spaces are becoming battlegrounds for rights and freedoms.

The Digital Rights and Freedoms Project Fellowship aims to equip journalists with the financial support, mentoring and training they need to navigate and report on these complex issues, fostering an informed public discourse.

Eligibility

• Professional journalists and tech researchers, both individuals and teams, from media outlets from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey.
• Previous participants in BIRN trainings are especially encouraged to apply.
• They welcome cross-border team applications, to foster regional collaboration.

Benefits

• Grants of 1,000 euros for individual journalists or collaborative teams, intended to support six months of research focused on in-depth storytelling related to digital rights and freedoms.
• On-the-job mentoring from BIRN editors and our Digital Rights Support Team, plus a two-day online training session to hone your investigative skills.
• Networking opportunities with like-minded journalists and tech researchers across the region, building a network of professionals dedicated to safeguarding digital rights.

How to apply

The deadline for applications is July 31, 2024. To learn more and apply, please click here.