Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is inviting applicants for the Regional Reporting Fellowship Program to provide accurate, independent journalism in support of democracy and human rights.

The goal of the RFE/RL Regional Reporting Fellowship is to equip aspiring journalists from the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe with the skills and editorial expertise they need to become standard-bearers of a professional, independent, and ethical press. A free and vibrant media serves as a safeguard against disinformation, while promoting good governance and regional peace.

The program is financed by a grant from the U.S. Department of State.

Benefits

• Fellows will spend eight months in a local RFE/RL bureau where they will receive training, contribute to the day-to-day work of the Service they are placed with and be mentored by professional colleagues. During the second half of them in-bureau programs, Fellows will travel to RFE/RL headquarters in Prague for two weeks to receive additional training that augments the preparation they have received in the bureaus.
• The Prague trip also serves a vital networking function, introducing Fellows to colleagues in other RFE/RL language services, representatives of numerous Prague-based advocacy NGOs, and journalists working for Prague-based media outlets. Such contacts will expose Fellows to new professional resources and media trends.
• Fellows will receive a monthly stipend for the term of the program that is consistent with the local wage scale, workspace at an appropriate RFE/RL bureau, and paid travel to and from Prague.

Components

• The main components of the program are:
  • incorporation into the daily multi-platform operations of the RFE/RL bureau
  • training in the skills needed to produce professional multi-platform journalism
  • mentoring in editorial standards and adhering to RFE/RL’s mission
  • inclusion in daily editorial meetings to discuss editorial standards, decisions, and policies
  • exposure to the decisions, concerns, and standards that drive and distinguish the professional, independent press
  • support in efforts to network with other local media and pursue personal objectives and career goals

Eligibility Criteria

• The Fellowship accepts applications from journalists in Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine who speak the dominant local language. In the cases of Belarus and Russia, only journalists currently living outside of these two countries may apply.
• Eligible applicants should
  • have an education in journalism or a related field
  • have a minimum of two years’ experience in journalism
  • demonstrate a commitment to RFE/RL’s mission of professional, independent, and ethical journalism
  • plan to work in their home country, where possible
• Proficiency in English is not expected, but a working knowledge of English is desirable.

For more information, visit Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.