Journalists in the Balkans must now report on complex reform issues with regional and European dimensions. The fellowship provides editorial guidance, training and adequate funding to do so. In order to encourage regional networking among journalists and advance balanced coverage on topics that are central to the region as well as to the European Union, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the ERSTE Foundation, in cooperation with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, have initiated the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence programme in 2007.
Each year, ten Balkan journalists are competitively chosen to receive funding and professional support to conduct their own research project. Selected journalists receive a fellowship of 2000 euros, a travel allowance of up to 2000 euros and a chance to participate in a seven-month programme for professional advancement.
The fellowship features an introductory seminar in Vienna, mentorship of each fellow's research and reporting, individual research trips to countries of the region and the EU, as well as a concluding seminar and award ceremony in Berlin.
Experienced editors from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network provide hands-on support to fellows throughout their work, while seminars in Vienna and Berlin ensure that fellows learn about current issues of concern in the EU, meet Austrian and German political and economic actors and establish contact with media partners - Süddeutsche Zeitung and Der Standard.
In addition, the independent Selection Committee will award bursaries of € 4,000, € 3,000 and € 1,000 to the authors of the three winning articles. Fellowship reports are disseminated widely in all local languages as well as in English and German, and published in a book which assembles the ten works that have been produced in the course of the fellowship year.
Fellows are encouraged to maintain contact and support new intakes through an alumni network.
Topic 2012: Communities
For this year's programme, we encourage applicants to consider the annual theme, communities, in a broad sense. Candidates should examine different groupings - political, economic, national, gender, generational - and the relationship between them, external influences and the development of entirely new groups or factions. Ensure you think about your story's significance not just in your home country, but also in at least one other regional state and within the European Union. Choose phenomena that are relevant, current and original.
Like many European states, communities across the Balkans have been under stress as people struggle to cope with new economic realities. As most youngsters head for the cities or go abroad in search of opportunities, many villages have been reduced to virtual ghost-towns. The birth-rate and population size in many countries have also declined in recent decades.
Have these developments fuelled intergenerational conflict over lifestyle, choice, duty, morality and freedom? How well have cities absorbed this influx of young people looking to improve their prospects? How have rural communities coped with fewer young people?
Nationalism has been the most powerful, some might say the most destructive, force in the Balkans for many years. Since the wars of the 90s, the ethnic make-up of villages, cities, districts and countries has changed dramatically, what effect has this had on community cohesion?
What has this meant in terms of access to political representation today? Who find themselves to be entirely without a community, as they are still unable to obtain citizenship? Who struggle to meet basic needs, such as education, healthcare, housing and work?
Who find themselves on the margins because of the community they belong to? Are Balkan states still preoccupied with notions of 'the other' rather than cohesive yet mixed communities? How are current relations with neighbouring states and communities? Are there innovative projects in place bringing people from different backgrounds together?As one of the benchmarks of European Union membership is good neighbourly relations and respect for diversity, how far have Balkan states come in terms of ensuring that all communities feel they can influence and have an equal stake in the future?
The closing date for applications is March 5, 2012. The application form, guidelines and further information about the fellowship are available online: fellowship.birn.eu.com
