IPI Journalism and Media Freedom Research Fellowship

The IPI Journalism and Research Fellowship aims to provide a platform for journalists, media experts, advanced MA candidates and graduates, PhD candidates, and early post-doctoral researchers to engage in rigorous work that can inform policy, advocacy, and innovation in media and free expression. The fellowship is open to applicants affiliated with organisations and institutions based in Finland.

The fellowship is a structured and financially supported opportunity to produce high-impact work, while gaining direct insight into and contributing to IPI’s global work to support and defend press freedom and independent journalism. Fellows will be based in IPI’s Vienna office and will benefit from mentorship from IPI staff, peer exchange, professional development and integration in IPI’s global network of journalists, which will strengthen the quality and reach of their work. The Helsingin Sanomat Foundation offers a compensation package ranging from €1,870 to € 2,600 per month, depending on the qualifications of the selected applicant. The rate for students without a master’s degree is €1,870. The rate for all other applicants, including those with a master’s degree, a PhD, a postdoctoral fellowship, or early-career journalists, is €2,600. The fellows will also receive a one-time travel stipend of €250 to cover their travel from Helsinki to Vienna.

Key requirements

• Original research, policy analysis, or journalistic work addressing pressing issues in media freedom and freedom of information, media capture and threats to independent journalism, media innovation, safety of journalists, disinformation, ownership and regulation, and the relationship between media, security, and democracy, or other relevant topics.
• Written/audio/visual publications that are useful for both scholarly audiences and media /civil society/policy stakeholders; for reference, please explore IPI’s Archive Exhibition.
• Contribution to IPI’s knowledge base, enabling advocacy or capacity-building in relevant areas.
• The fellows will receive guidance on publication and dissemination, enabling fellows to ensure their outputs inform advocacy, policy debates, and practical interventions in support of independent journalism and freedom of expression.

Eligibility

• The fellowship is open to journalists, media/media freedom experts, advanced MA students and graduates, PhD students, recent PhD graduates and researchers
• Applicants must be affiliated with organisations and institutions based in Finland.
• The duration of the fellowship is four months at the IPI headquarters in Vienna (or hybrid, if full residency isn’t possible). Alternative arrangements are possible on a case-by-case basis.

How to apply

The application is to be submitted via an online form. Apply here.

For more information, please visit this page.