Rest and Resilience Fellowship (2015 - 2025)

The Rest & Resilience Fellowship was founded in 2025 as a joint project of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the taz Panter Foundation. Two journalists from countries with restricted freedom of the press and information are invited to Berlin for a six-month stay each year. During this time, the media professionals take time out to recover from the difficult working conditions, to further their professional and personal development and to gain new perspectives. At the end of the fellowship, the journalists return to their home countries strengthened and ready to continue their journalistic work.

Participants can withdraw completely from public life if they wish. However, a variety of professional development opportunities are available and participation is encouraged. In addition, there is the opportunity to network professionally, attend individual courses according to their own interests or take advantage of psychological support services. During the stay in Berlin, visits to local media outlets are planned jointly with the participants in our other fellowship programs and this mutual exchange provides an enriching component of the yearly program. The fellows also gain insights into RSF’s work as a global human rights organization, as well as the taz Panter Foundation’s programming, which promotes critical journalism and social commitment in close cooperation with the taz daily newspaper.

Starting in 2026, the Rest & Resilience Fellowship will be offered separately by the taz Panter Foundation and conducted in close cooperation with the RSF Fellowship program.

More information can be found here.

Individual fellowship recipients were supported with funds from Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD), the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS, as well as grants from the European Union Temporary Relocation Platform (EUTRP) / Protect Defenders.

The 2025 fellows of the RSF Rest & Resilience Fellowship Program:

The alumni of the RSF Fellowship Programs