CFAs: Reporting Digital Rights and Freedoms Fellowship 2024 (Second Round)

This initiative is designed to support and mentor journalists and media outlets in producing investigative stories that highlight and address the critical challenges of digital rights violations.

Awarded journalists will have a unique opportunity to collaborate closely with BIRN editors and the 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 in one of the BIRN’s channels (including but not limited to Balkan Insight, BIRD, local BIRN websites), offering a platform for amplifying your work with the aim to inform and engage a wide audience.

Benefits

• On-the-job mentoring from BIRN editors and the 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.

Funding Information

• Grants of EUR 1,000 for individual journalists or collaborative teams, intended to support six months of research focused on in-depth storytelling related to digital rights and freedoms.

Eligibility Criteria

• Professional journalists and tech researchers, both individuals and teams, from media outlets from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey.
• Previous participants of BIRN’s training 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

Application Requirements

• Ensure you include:
  • A detailed proposal outlining your intended story or investigation, focusing on its relevance, originality, and potential impact.
  • Your professional CV, with an emphasis on your past work in journalism or digital rights research.
  • A declaration form, affirming the authenticity of the information provided and your commitment to the project’s ethical standards.

For more information, visit BIRN.