The Transatlantic Media Fellowships give American and European journalists the opportunity to conduct research in the European Union (for American journalists) and in the United States (for European journalists). The fellowships are an integral component of the Transatlantic Dialogue Program on Democracy and Social Policy, promoting a vibrant discourse between U.S. and European societies on the shared challenges to our democracies and on the shared values of the transatlantic partnership. The fellowship is open to journalists in any medium eager to report on one of two issues areas: “Migration and Integration” and “Digital Societies”.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation seeks journalists working in any medium who offer new perspectives on transatlantic policy debates, who come from diverse communities, and who may not otherwise have the opportunity to conduct transatlantic research.
What is offered
The Heinrich Böll Foundation will cover travel and accommodation costs within reason for five days of research in the EU or the U.S., subject to final approval of individual travel plans. They also provide an honorarium of $1,000. Each fellowship recipient may decide his or her own dates of travel during November 2015. If requested, the Foundation can provide some assistance with setting up meetings in the U.S. and Europe.
Who can apply
Eligible journalists should:
- be from the United States, based in the U.S., and seek to contribute to transatlantic policy debates by reporting about European practices and experiences in one of the two issue areas.
- be from an E.U. member state, based in the E.U., and seek to contribute to transatlantic policy debates by reporting about U.S. practices and experiences in one of the two issue areas.
The Foundation will give special consideration to journalists from regional or local media outlets who demonstrate that transatlantic reporting is a new and important perspective for their audience and that their story ideas would be informative for regional or local policy debates. The Foundation also strongly encourage journalists from diverse backgrounds who can offer lesser-heard perspectives.
Fellows must be able to guarantee the publication of their pieces. Fellowship recipients (and/or their employers) will retain full editorial control over their reporting. The Heinrich Böll Foundation will also feature the final pieces on its website following their publication.
What’s expected
Each fellowship recipient is expected to publish a series of at least three stories, in any medium, by January 2016. Stories should focus on one of two issue areas:
1. Digital Societies: Digital technologies are rapidly transforming traditional economies and outpacing the legal and policy frameworks that ensure citizens’ privacy and civil liberties. Yet, digitalization is also the key to future innovation, offering promising new approaches for green technologies, creating new sectors of the global economy, facilitating democratic exchange and transparency, and rapidly increasing the pace of scientific discovery. Journalists reporting on this issue area should aim to contribute to a nuanced transatlantic dialogue on the challenges and opportunities of the digital age for democratic societies and the transatlantic partnership. Examples of possible topics include the future of the Shared Economy, new approaches to data security, developments in the digital rights framework, or new technologies to facilitate democratic transparency.
2. Migration & Integration: The U.S. has long been a country shaped by immigrants. As the refugee crisis vividly portrays, Europe today, and Germany in particular, are rapidly attracting refugees and new immigrants, as well. How the U.S. and Europe respond to the challenges of immigration and integration is not only about those who seek to enter our borders, but also about how we choose to define our societies, futures, and shared interests. The Foundation promotes well-regulated immigration and integration policies as the responsibilities of a democratic state and as rich opportunities for economic growth, innovation, and cultural diversity. Journalists reporting on this issue area should aim to contribute to debates on immigration and integration policies with new perspectives informed by a transatlantic lens. Examples of possible topics include analyses of the societal response to new refugees and immigrants, comparisons of integration policies across municipalities, states, or countries, or a comparison of refugee resettlement programs.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until October 16, 2015.
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