Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Rest & Refuge Fellowship 2024

The Rest & Resilience Fellowship is an annual program co-hosted by the Taz Panter Foundation and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). RSF is an international human rights group that fights for press and information freedom across the world. In close collaboration with the tageszeitung (taz), the taz Panter Foundation supports critical journalists as well as the social involvement of independent projects in Germany and throughout the world.

RSF invites two journalists from countries with limited press and information freedom to Berlin for a six-month residency. During their stay, media professionals take time away from their regular duties to recover from their challenging working conditions and to broaden their personal and professional horizons. The fellows return to their home countries after six months with renewed enthusiasm and new views to continue their journalistic work.

If they wish, participants can withdraw completely from public life. However, the fellowships will offer different workshops for further training and networking purposes, and participation is strongly encouraged. Additionally, the time spent in Berlin offers opportunities for exchange with international journalists from all over the world, getting to know German editorial offices, taking language classes, and taking advantage of individual psychosocial counseling, if desired.

Benefits:

• Visa and travel costs
• Furnished apartment in Berlin
• Travel health insurance for the six months spent in Berlin
• Monthly grant of 1000€ psychological support
• Workshops (e.g. on digital safety training and stress management)
• Professional journalistic and/or personal training opportunities

Eligibility:

• The Rest & Resilience Fellowship is open to journalists from countries with restricted freedom of press and information

• Eligibility for the program The applicant has a firm idea of how the six-month fellowship in Berlin can have a positive impact on his or her current situation.
  Please Note: The fellowship should be used for personal development and, if necessary, professional reorientation; the journalist can return to their home country with new viewpoints and replenished energy.
• Several years of work experience as a professional journalist
  Please note: Although the work of human rights activists is very valuable, we cannot invite individuals who are not professional journalists, as they do not fall under RSF’s mandate.
• Personal threat profile due to journalistic work or difficult working conditions caused by external factors
• Proven knowledge of the English language The applicants must be able to communicate well in a professional context.
• A passport that is valid for at least twelve months at the time of application (or can be independently re-applied or renewed)
• A state of health that permits longer travel and the six-month stay in the host country, as well as sufficient independence to handle everyday affairs on their own in a foreign setting.
• Ability and willingness to return to the country of origin after the fellowship period.
  Please note: Applications from journalists who are unable to return to their home country due to the political situation or their own threat situation can unfortunately not be considered in the application process. This is mainly due to the fact that no visa will be issued by the German authorities without the possibility of return.

Application:

Your application must include the following documents:

• The completed and signed application form
• A scan of your current passport (valid for another 12 months or independently renewable)
• Your curriculum vitae is in tabular form (CV).
• A letter of motivation (1-2 pages) in which you explain why you are applying for the Rest & Resilience Fellowship Please address what specific factors endanger or complicate your individual working situation. Please also describe how you plan to use your stay in Berlin and how it will positively impact your future work in your home country.

Application Period:

• The stay in Berlin is limited to six months. The projected time period of the fellowships will be from May 1^st to October 31^st, 2024.

Please send the completed application form and other requested documents in PDF format to: fellowship-rsf-taz@proton.me

Click here to apply