Deadline: 31 July 2024
The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) is providing fellowships for the Digital Rights and Freedoms Journalist which is 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 specialized 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. Ultimately, your written content, upon editors’ approval, will be showcased as a long-form investigative piece on one of the BIRN channels including but not limited to Balkan Insight, BIRD and local BIRN websites offering a platform for amplifying your work with the aim of informing and engaging a wide audience.
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.
Funding Information
- 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.
What they offer?
- On-the-job mentoring from BIRN editors and their 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.
Eligibility Criteria
- 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.
Selection Criteria
- Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Relevance and significance of the proposed story.
- Feasibility and originality.
- Applicant’s professional qualifications and experience.
For more information, visit BIRN.
