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EU Journalism Fellowship

  1. Introduction
  2. Current Fellows
  3. Selection Process
  4. Alumni

Introduction

There is strong evidence that many media across Europe are finding it a challenge to report EU policies adequately: the number of journalists accredited to the EU institutions has shrunk by one third in recent years, while the European Union has been given more responsibilities under the Lisbon Treaty. Fondation EurActiv, with support from other foundations, an international jury and other independent media groups, runs an innovative fellowship programme to train national and regional journalists to report on the EU from a distance and to learn ‘How to turn European stories local – and local stories European’.

The programme is designed to provide independent quality journalism across Europe, aiming for ‘up and coming’ young journalists, from across Europe, to gain experience in European Union policies and online media. The main objectives of the training are:

  • Understand the policy making process in the institutions

  • Learn the tools to cover EU affairs from outside Brussels

  • Create a network in Brussels

  • Learn to find a local angle to an EU story

Initially, twelve journalists will participate in a one-week seminar and the best six out of those twelve will be invited to spend five weeks in Brussels, in the premises of EurActiv. EurActiv has a team of experienced EU editors and reporters literally across the street from the Press Room of the European Commission and Council where all main EU press conferences are held.

At the core of the programme is an ‘alumni group’ which publishes cross-border European articles for their domestic/national media as well as internationally. The alumni will have the opportunity for further exposure during and after the programme on the EU Journalism Fellowship Blog. All fellows are also invited to a closed Facebook group to connect, network, share, organise, ask, etc. The Robert Bosch Stiftung provided the inaugural funding in 2011 and 2012: "Despite the fact that journalists play a central role in communicating political processes and decisions taken by the European Institutions, they rarely have a well established international network. With the EU Journalism Fellowship, the Robert Bosch Stiftung aims at increasing cross-border cooperation between national media, while giving young journalists the opportunity to gain valuable experience at the European level. During their stay at Fondation EurActiv, journalists will learn to find relevant contacts and sources and understand how to use them to report on and from Brussels." 

In addition, the Latvian Open Society Foundation has granted funding for an additional journalist to be part of the 2012 programme.

Fondation EurActiv Politech is keen to expand this programme in the second half of 2012 and again in 2013. Interested grant-makers are welcome to request information from Julian Oliver, Secretary General Fondation EurActiv Politech.

Current Fellows

In 2012, twelve talented fellows have been selected to the programme: 

Estefania

de Antonio Garcia, Estefania

After graduation from the Complutence University of Madrid with a degree in Journalism, Estefania started her career at the Spanish public television (TVE), and is currently writing for the Spanish Radio Television (RTVE) website. Her work focuses mostly on European and Global issues, following a broad range of topics.

Avgeropoulou, Antigoni

Starting her career at the Greek national radio NET 105.8, Antigoni went on to work at several online publications like the Financial News Agency and Attica Press. With a storng focus on finance, business and energy, she is currently writing for a news agency focussed on energy issues: www.energypress.gr.

Bitsch, Katia

Katia is currently reporter and news presenter for Radio France: France-Blue Alsace (Strasbourg) and over fifteen other regional and local public-service broadcasting-stations throughout France. She focuses on general news, European Union activities and economic trends. Previously, she worked as a reporter at Deutsche Welle, Radio Florival, and Laguingette.

Chrysoloras, Nikos

Nikos joins this programme with more than 4 years of practical experience across a set of diverse media platforms (print, web, television, and publishing). He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE), and is currently writing for Kathimerini, Greece’s leading newspaper and best selling broadsheet. He focuses on issues regarding international political economy, social policy, and European integration.

Nikos' comment on the training in Brussels: "Πρόκειται για ένα πολύ χρήσιμο εκπαιδευτικό πρόγραμμα στο ευρωπαϊκό ρεπορτάζ, όχι μόνο γιατί οι συμμετέχοντες έχουν την ευκαιρία να εξοικειωθούν με τη λειτουργία των θεσμών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, αλλά κυρίως επειδή κατά τη διάρκειά του, μπορούν να χτίσουν ένα πλούσιο δίκτυο επαφών και πηγών, στις Βρυξέλλες." 

Example of Nikos' work while in Brussels: Greece must remain in the Eurozone

Haimerl, Kathrin

Editing the political pages of Süddeutsche.de, the online edition of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Kathrin is frequently confronted with EU policies and EU institutions.  She focuses her work on international, as well as domestic politics. Previously, she worked as a reporter at the Passauer Neue Presse, and as press and PR officer at the Ecademy for Civic Education.

Kathrin's comment on the training in Brussels: "Über die Institutionen der Europäischen Union zu berichten, ist eine besondere Herausforderungen. Vor Ort in Brüssel mitzuerleben, wie sich Ideen entwickeln, wie Entscheidungen entstehen, hilft ungemein. Ich kann das Trainingsprogramm der Robert-Bosch-Stiftung deshalb nur empfehlen."

Herzing, Johanna

Johanna currently works for the public national radio Deutschlandfunk, editing programmes focussed on European politics, European integration and the European Union, as well as presenting several radio programmes (‘Europe today’ et al.). She also worked as a radio journalist for Deutsche Welle and for the online department of WDR.de.

Example of Johanna's work while in Brussels: Report on the local elections in Brussels and integration policies with a portrait of a young candidate for the community council

Impey, Joanna

Holding a MA in Broadcast Journalism from City University London, Joanna is currently working at the English department of Deutsche Welle as their Europe editor. She combines writing and editing with producing and occasionally presenting a weekly radio show. She has previous experience working for BBC, and EuradioNantes.

Joanna's comment on the training in Brussels: "This fellowship is a great opportunity to live and breathe EU journalism in the heart of Brussels. Come with lots of ideas and you will have the freedom to follow them through!"

Kapalschinski, Christoph

For the past 6 years, Christoph has been working for Handelsblatt, where he started as reporter and is currently editor of the companies and markets section. He graduated from the University of Hamburg, with a degree in Political Science, combined with Economics and Journalism and gained experience at Die Zeit, Wirtschaftswoche and News Frankfurt.

Lastovska, Alina

After graduation from the University of Latvia, where she studied Communication Science with a major in journalism, Alina started to work for the Latvian National News Agency LETA. Alina covers issues related to the politics and parliament of Latvia, following a wide range of topics. She also obtained a Master's degree in Economics.

McKiernan, Jennifer

Jennifer currently works as political reporter for the Aberdeen Evening Express, a fast-paced, two-edition daily regional newspaper. She focuses on energy issues and regional policies, linking local issues from Europe's energy capital Aberdeen to EU policy issues. She has previous experience at the Times, the Yorkshire Post, the Independent on Sunday, and others.

Jennifer's comment on the training in Brussels: "Reporting from inside the Brussels media pack has been particularly instructive, as I’ve been able to learn more about nuanced issues and the best sources from more experienced journalists. The guidance and friendship of the journalists at EurActiv has given me vital support in my work"

Pedersen, Anders

As a published web, print and TV journalist with more than two years experience covering European and Danish issues, Anders is currently reporting mainly for the web-publication Ugebrevet A4, focusing on issues like health care, industrial policy and the financial crisis, as data journalist. He has previously been published in Politiken, Information, and Ekstra Bladet.

Rzasa, Daniel

Daniel is currently Editor-in-Chief for Forsal, an online publication focussed on business and financial news, where he started as online editor. He also has gained experience from working at the economic department at Thomson Reuters, and the Polish Press Agency (PAP). He is also interested in covering issues like transport and energy, and digital agenda.

Example of Daniel's work while in Brussels: Europe's demographic challenges and ageing society

Schmidt, Robert

Robert is finalizing his MA in European Studies, while at the same time writing for the Neue Zürcher Zeitung and Magazine Lyon Capitale. He will continue to write for Neue Zürcher Zeitung, where he will benefit from his earlier experience there, but also from his experience at the Deutsche Presse Agentur and the Märkische Oderzeitung.

The aforementioned international jury consists of Mona Hinz (Robert Bosch Stiftung), Quentin Dickinson (Radio France), and Aidan White (former Sec Gen of AEJ/IFJ), Ann Cahill (President of International Press Association), Peter Kramer (European Business Review), Christophe Leclercq (Fondation EurActiv), Julian Oliver (Fondation EurActiv), Joachim Weidemann (DPA), and Ewald König (Europäische Multiplikatoren-Medien). 

Selection Process

The twelve journalists are selected to participate in a one-week seminar in Brussels, after which six fellows spend five weeks amongst the journalists of EurActiv in EurActiv's Brussels network office.

The initial one-week seminar includes training on contemporary case-studies and new journalism techniques. Topics include: How to turn EU stories local – and local stories European, ‘Europe 2020’, the financial crisis and reforms as well as energy policy.

Based on journalists’ active participation, their basic understanding of EU institutions and policy making, their capacity to find relevant angles to story ideas and their networking capacities shown during the seminar, six journalists will be selected for the five week work experience with Fondation EurActiv in Brussels.

This intense training phase will provide a unique opportunity to live and breathe EU journalism right in the centre of Europe within a team of experienced, international reporters. 

During the training weeks, journalists will continue to produce stories for their home media. They will have the chance to cover both areas of their own expertise (related to their home media) or unrelated policy areas if they wish. In addition, a guided trip to a Strasbourg European parliamentary week will be organised and the training period in Brussels should coincide with a EU Summit.

Regular coaching will be provided from the EurActiv’s managing editor, as well as external coaches from other Brussels based media. 

Selection criteria:

  • Minimum of THREE and no more than FIVE years of journalism experience;

  • Currently employed by a media outside Brussels and full support of their employer to participate in the programme;

  • Austrian, British, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Slovak or Spanish nationality;

  • Availability for one week in March 2013 and 5 weeks as of 22 April or 03 June 2013;

  • Strong interest in European issues;

  • Very good oral and written English.

 

Applications for the 2013 edition are now welcome. Please click here to see full details on the application process and apply before 15 February 2013. 

Alumni

Alumni 2011

 

Antoine, Prune

Freelance Journalist

Heimpel, Daniela

Freelance Journalist

Barthélémy, Simon

L'Alsace-Le Pays

Hierländer, Jeannine

Die Presse

Binois, Emilie

Autoactu.com

Kuck, Miriam

Freelance Journalist

Dutkowski, Filip

Polish Press Agency (PAP)

Pajdak, Karolina

BILD

Eickhorn, Christina

Freelance Journalist

Rodrigo, Vicente

Freelance Journalist

Gieffers, Hanna

Tagesspiegel

Scherbel-Ball, Naomi

BBC

 

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