Apply Now: RFE/RL Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship 2025

The purpose of the Fellowship is to help aspiring journalists from the region pursue their profession in support of media pluralism and independence.

The Fellowship is a seven-month program, which equips Fellows with cutting-edge journalistic skills and involves them in the daily editorial debates and discussions that inform a professional and independent press. Fellows spend six months at RFE/RL’s headquarters in Prague, where they are placed with an appropriate language service to receive daily, on-the-job training and mentoring while working alongside RFE/RL’s seasoned professionals. After Prague, Fellows spend a final month at a local RFE/RL bureau (if applicable).

Launched in 2011, the Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship is inspired by the late Czech president’s belief in the transformational role of journalism in challenging tyranny and oppression and builds on RFE/RL’s legacy of promoting more open societies through journalism. The Fellowship is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and RFE/RL, which is co-funded by the Ministry.

The Fellowship also features workshops on journalistic practices and tools; discussions with government officials, civic leaders, and regional analysts; visits to local media and news agencies in Prague; and professional development opportunities in the Czech Republic and abroad. Fellows will be expected to represent themselves and the Fellowship in English at public events and in discussions relating to media freedom in their country.

Program Components

• The main components of the program are:
  • Professional mentoring alongside RFE/RL’s seasoned professionals.
  • Training and development of journalistic skills on traditional, multi-media, and digital platforms.
  • Participation in the daily editorial discussions that inform a professional and independent press.
  • Independent work on a personal project.
  • Understanding of the mission and practice of a professional, free, and independent media company.

Eligibility Criteria         

• The Fellowship accepts applications from journalists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation.
• Eligible applicants should:
  • have a minimum of two years’ experience working as a journalist in their native language
  • be committed to working as a journalist in, or for audiences in, their home country
  • share RFE/RL’s mission
  • be proficient in English
• Applicants for a Fellowship position with Current Time must demonstrate native-level fluency in Russian, strong writing skills, and some TV and digital experience. They must indicate their wish to be assigned to Current Time in their application materials.
• Application materials must be submitted in English.

For more information, visit RFE/RL.