Berlin Fellowship Program: Empowering Journalists in the Digital Field

The application deadline for the next round of the Berlin Fellowship Program has expired. Applications are no longer possible!

Reporters Without Borders Germany is calling for applications for its Berlin Fellowship Program: Empowering Journalists in the Digital Field. From May 2024 until the end of October 2024 six journalists from crisis areas will be invited to Berlin for a period of six months.
During their stay in Berlin, the fellowship holders can enjoy a break and will complete a comprehensive training program on digital self-defense for journalists. The program is funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises.

Who can apply?

Professional journalists, bloggers, media professionals and citizen journalists who

  • are exposed to digital threats of any form and
  • experienced digital violence such as doxing or impersonation and
  • want to educate themselves about digital security in order to improve their personal security and the safety of their sources and 
  • are interested in passing on the knowledge acquired during the scholarship program to colleagues in their home regions and, ideally, already have some experience in teaching or other areas of knowledge transfer and
  • are able and willing to fully participate in the program. We expect the applicants to be available for all activities of the program including the comprehensive training for digital security. Please plan with about 20 to 25 hours per week during the training period.
  • In the selection process, positive consideration will be given to applicants who work as investigative journalists on topics such as the climate crisis, corruption, labor rights or migration

What we offer

We cover the travel costs, take care of all visa-related matters, provide and pay for an apartment in Berlin for the duration of the scholarship, grant a monthly allowance of 1000€/month, pay for the health insurance and for the use of public transportation in Berlin. Every fellow will participate in an extensive training program in the field of digital security with experienced trainers for several months. Furthermore, during their stay in Berlin, scholarship holders will be given insights into the activities of Reporters Without Borders Germany, a globally-active journalist and human rights organization.

Period of stay in Berlin

The stay is limited to six months. It starts in the beginning of May 2024 and ends at the end of October 2024. The exact dates for the travel to and from Berlin will be communicated to the chosen participants.

Topics of the training program for digital self-defense

The main topics of the program will be

  • holistic security basics for journalists, bloggers, media professionals and citizen journalists at risk
  • operational security including risk assessments and security planning
  • online identity management for investigative journalists, including technical background and practical use of anonymization tools
  • secure online communication concepts, technology and tools, including secure online conferencing for interviews
  • password and account security and data protection on social media and other online accounts for media work
  • device security for computers and mobile phones of journalists at risk
  • website security for media websites under attack
  • secure online and offline data storage including encryption for media files
  • online information verification and Open Source Intelligence
  • digital violence (online gender-based violence, doxing, impersonation, trolling) 

Requirements

If you want to apply you 

  • must have a very strong command of the English language, as the whole fellowship program will be conducted entirely in English and
  • must have adequate experience working as a journalist, be it as a professional journalist or as a citizen journalist and
  • must show a strong interest in learning in-depth about digital security for journalists. A high level of proficiency in regards to digital security is not required. Anyone who is used to working with a computer and smartphone can apply
  • must be able and willing to fully participate in all activities of the program (see above: Who can apply)
  • must show that you are willing to return to their home region after the fellowship in Germany

Application documents

If you want to apply for the Berlin Fellowship Programm, please fill out 

the application form

the questionnaire

Then please send the following four documents in four separate PDFs to apply for the program

  • a completed and signed application form
  • the completed questionnaire
  • your CV and
  • an identity document (ID or passport)

How to send your application

You can send your application documents either by sending them

  • from your own Proton Email account to the Proton Email account of program: rsf.digitalfreedom@protonmail.com. If you do not have a Proton Mail account yet, you can create a free account here: https://proton.me/mail
  • Alternatively, you can send you application by using the Signal Messenger to +49 1636743853. If you don't use Signal Messenger App yet, you can download it here: signal.org

The deadline for applications was Monday, December 04th 2023 at 23:59 (Central European Time).

 

Contact:

Reporters Without Borders Germany

Berlin Scholarship Program: Empowering Journalists in the Digital Field

rsf.digitalfreedom@protonmail.com

Signal: +49 1636743853

The program is funded by the Berlin for Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises.

 

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