Call for Applications: FRONTIERS Science Journalism Residency Program 2023 (Round 1)

FRONTIERS journalists in residence primarily focus on ‘Frontier research’ and engage with inquiries that reside at the cutting edge of available knowledge. Often characterized as high-risk/high-reward endeavors, ‘Frontier research’ may be complex to elucidate and particularly challenging to present to the public in a balanced and responsible way.

These residencies, spanning 3 to 5 months, offer unparalleled opportunities to delve into frontier research across diverse disciplines, including social sciences and humanities.

Objectives

• In its commitment to supporting independent science journalism, FRONTIERS aspires to play a pivotal role in supporting the professional development of science journalists.
• In Europe, with its rich diversity of cultures and languages, the challenge for science journalists is even greater. They must not only stay abreast of the latest scientific developments but also be adept at tailoring this information to a varied audience.
• Professional development opportunities, such as the FRONTIERS project, enable journalists to hone their skills in critical thinking, clear communication, and ethical reporting. Moreover, as misinformation and disinformation become increasingly prevalent and some important scientific topics – including social sciences and humanities – do not reach the wider audience of citizens, the role of trained and independent science journalists is invaluable.
• They are instrumental in building public trust in scientific institutions and in the scientific method itself. By investing in their professional growth, Europe ensures that its citizens have access to reliable and accurate scientific reporting, which is essential for a resilient, healthy and democratic society.
• This investment not only benefits the field of journalism but also enhances public understanding and engagement with science, ultimately contributing to more informed policymaking and a more scientifically literate society.

Funding Information

• Supporting up to 40 fellowships (up to 10 in the first call), for a total funding available of 600,000 EUR.

What they offer?

• The FRONTIERS project offers fellowship residencies to journalists interested in spending 3 to 5 months in one or more European research institutions to increase their knowledge in a specific ‘Frontier research’ field of science or to carry out research for their own production (science journalism projects, books, or any other professional goal), in a totally independent way.
• The FRONTIERS’ bottom-up approach allows journalists to apply for residencies in any European research institution covering any field of frontier science, including social sciences and humanities. Within the 3-5 months of the residency, journalists can ask to spend shorter periods of time in one or more other research institutions to further enrich their experience and improve their knowledge in the selected field of frontier research.
• During the project, training and networking activities will be developed, connecting stakeholders, disseminating good practices in science journalism, and creating bridges between journalists, researchers, and institutions. Selected fellows are expected to take part in these activities, before, during and after their residency.
• The program design ensures the value of the initiative for both the research institution and the journalist while maintaining the journalists’ independence and credibility.

Eligibility Criteria

• Journalists
  • Nationality/Country of residence: While primarily targeting residents in Europe and associated countries, the FRONTIERS program will also consider applications from science journalists of all nationalities residing elsewhere, who are willing to spend time in European research institutions and better understand the European scientific landscape.
  • Professional criteria: Eligible participants include science journalists, defined as reporters, writers, editors, producers, illustrators, filmmakers, and photojournalists working across various media, including self-managed social media channels so long as they produce independent journalistic content. Journalistic content can have any format, from voice to video, text and pictures as mixed formats.
  • Commitment: During the residency, selected applicants are expected to focus fully on their project, and to refrain from outside professional work. Applicants who are selected to become fellows are expected to actively participate in training and networking activities organized within the FRONTIERS project framework, and to take part in communication and dissemination activities (such as participation in a short video about their experiences during the residencies, and takeover of social media accounts for a short period of time). They are also expected to provide feedback on the residency as requested by the FRONTIERS staff, during and after the residency.
  • Multiple applications: Journalists may submit a single application per call. Should more than one application exist, only the first one to be submitted will be considered. Applicants who have not been selected in one call may apply again in the next call. Science journalists selected for a residency will not be allowed to apply again, even if they are for some reason unable to complete the residency.
  • Seniority/career level: FRONTIERS grants differentiate among three levels of career, based on the professional seniority:
    • early-career: up to 5 years of professional experience;
    • mid-career: 6-9 years of experience;
    • established: ten or more years of experience.
• Host Institutions
  • Premise: host institutions may support more than one journalist’s application in the same call. However, since diversity of host institutions will be encouraged, it is unlikely that one host institution will host two FRONTIERS fellows. Host institutions will be able to host more than one fellow selected in different calls.
  • Location: host institutions should be a legal entity based in the EU Member State or in a country associated with the EU’s Horizon Europe Programme by the call deadline.
  • Focus: institutions must host one or more research groups who are performing, or have performed in the past, frontier research in any field. Hosting current or past ERC grantees is a plus but is not required.
  • Requirements: host institutions have to commit in writing to fulfill the basic requirements, in order to help science journalists in residence have a fruitful and enriching experience in carrying out their project in total independence, in a welcoming and safe working environment. Basic requirements include:
    • Badge or other forms of credentials granting access to the relevant premises;
    • Access to the cafeteria/canteen and other shared areas under the same condition as senior research staff;
    • A working space with access to wi-fi;
    • Access to the institution’s library and electronic resources (such as books, scientific journals and databases);
    • Access to all events and activities organized for the institution’s staff.
  • Contribution: host institutions are expected to support to the best of their possibilities the science journalist in residence before and during the residency, and to discuss with them all possible ways to organize lectures, seminars, workshops, round tables on science journalism and science communication for the institution’s staff or for the wider public.
  • Independence: host institutions are required to respect and cherish the independence of the science journalist in residence. Science journalists in residence are not expected and will not provide any support for institutional communication, and are not expected to provide coverage of the host institution’s activities, neither during nor after the residency, except for fulfilling their project and their own goals.
  • Multiple applications: host institutions are allowed to support more than one application in each call, but must inform candidates about concurrent applications, warning them that only one fellowship can be awarded to each institution in each call.
  • Management: the host institution will identify a ‘FRONTIERS manager’, who will be responsible for the management of all aspects of the residency.

For more information, visit FRONTIERS.