In 2021, Internews launched the Journalist Security Fellowship. This program gathers fellows from Central and Southeastern European countries to upskill them in digital security and help them bolster the security of local journalist communities through targeted engagements.
Our first cohort of fellows represented six Central European countries. We are now proud to announce that we are expanding the program to three new countries: Albania, Bulgaria, and Croatia!
Gong is Internews' partner for Croatia, and is responsible for all implemented activities in Croatia.
If you’re interested in journalists’ digital security and come from one of those three countries, then this is the ideal program for you! We plan to recruit 12 fellows in total, approximately 4 per country. Fellows do not need to be experts in digital security or journalism but should have an interest in both. We are particularly interested in recruiting underrepresented communities (such as applicants who identify as women, as LGBTQI+, or as members of ethnic minorities)!
During the 1+ year long fellowship, you’ll receive constant mentoring, support, and training materials from us. We will cover basic and advanced digital security, the risks regional media outlets might be facing, and much more! You’ll also be invited to three regional workshops — one to map regional journalists’ security needs, one on digital security concepts, and one on the security needs of marginalized communities. Following those workshops, you’ll receive a stipend to organize digital security trainings and knowledge sharing sessions in your region.
We will also connect all our fellows with regional and international digital security, media, and digital freedom networks. Select fellows will get the chance to participate in the internet freedom community’s biggest conferences, such as RightsCon or the Internet Freedom Festival! Finally, we also have limited spots for some fellows to test out cutting-edge digital training techniques, including virtual reality and scenario-based teaching.
All you need to do to apply is fill out THIS FORM before March 11, 2022!
Internews is partnering with three local organizations during this next phase of the fellowship. If you have specific questions or concerns, please reach out to the partner organization in your country.
Any individual working with (or interested in working with) journalist communities and based in Albania, Bulgaria, or Croatia is eligible to apply. Fellows do not need to be experts in digital security or journalism but should have an interest in both. We are particularly interested in recruiting underrepresented communities (such as applicants who identify as women, as LGBTQI+, or as members of ethnic minorities). Find example profiles of potential fellows here.
All fellowship programming will be conducted in English; however, local engagements organized by fellows may be offered in local languages as needed. Content developed during the fellowship, such as training or awareness raising materials, may also be developed in relevant languages. Some funding for the localization (and translation) of relevant digital security tools and resources will be made available by Internews.
A four-person technical panel, including members Internews and representatives from local media organizations, will conduct a review of all fellowship applications. Applicants will be scored on three criteria: clear motivation to pursue the project, their participation’s benefit for the wider journalist community, and interest in digital security topics. As required, applicants may be asked to participate in a brief phone interview with members of the review panel.
The fellowship does include a stipend which will allow fellows to organize three digital security trainings and/or knowledge sharing sessions in their home country.
The fellowship will last approximately twelve months and is expected to begin in April 2022. Select fellows will be invited to extend the fellowship for an additional six months to test out cutting-edge digital training techniques, including virtual reality and scenario-based teaching.
While level of engagement may vary from month to month, on average we expect fellows to participate in an average 25 hours of programming per month.
Internews is carefully monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. While we hope to hold in-person fellowship-related trainings and convenings, we will not do so until deemed safe by local public health authorities. In the meantime, Internews is prepared to conduct meaningful virtual programming for fellowship participants.
Check out what type of PEOPLE PROFILES fit us for the fellowship.
Apply HERE!
