Connecting young talent with leading news organisations

At the European Journalism Centre, we support and build resilience into journalism in many ways.

Our programmes have benefited a wide range of professionals and organisations, from newsroom managers to freelance reporters or new media funders. But this year we’re also putting a strong focus on a key community within our industry: those who will soon be the next generation of journalists.

Thanks to a new collaboration with the Google News Initiative (GNI), we’re thrilled to present the 2019 GNI Fellowship programme in Europe. The application process is now open for Bachelor, Master or PhD students who want to kick-start their journalism careers. The successful fellows will spend this summer working in a renowned news organisation, learning from experts and building a professional network.

What does the Fellowship entail?

There are 40 fellowship placements available across 11 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and, for the first time, Poland.

Newsrooms from each participating country will select and host one fellow during 8 weeks over summer. Participating newsrooms range from big dailies like The Guardian, Gazeta Wyborcza or de Volkskrant, to public broadcasters like the Finnish YLE, fact-checking organisations like TheJournal.ie, to magazines and local or regional news organisations.

All the fellows will be remunerated for their work in the newsroom. Besides gaining valuable practical experience, they will also receive mentorship and attend a one-day bootcamp that will take place in Brussels at the beginning of summer. The bootcamp will be an occasion to meet and connect with the other fellows, participate in practical workshops and to get ready to make the most out of the experience.

Supporting younger generations of digital reporters is as necessary as it is exciting. By pairing students with leading news organisations, providing mentorship and creating a community of fellows, we’re not only boosting their careers. We see the GNI Fellowship as an opportunity for newsrooms to incorporate fresh perspectives, different skills and to explore new ideas.

What will the fellows be working on?

The programme is not exclusively for journalism students. We also want to bring on board students from various fields, like design or technology.

Some fellows will be working with verification and fact-checking teams, enhancing their research skills and using open-source investigation tools. Others will produce original content for social media platforms with the goal of engaging with their audiences.

Data-driven journalism is another field where students will be able to advance their skills by joining data teams and working on visualisations or analysing data sets to uncover patterns and news stories.

The range of placements is very diverse and each newsroom requires different types of skills. However, all news organisations will be looking for someone passionate about reporting on relevant stories and excited to explore the role that technology can play in the pursuit of the craft.

How can candidates apply?

You can visit our website to see an overview of all participating newsrooms and read the eligibility criteria. The application process will be open until 1 April and after that, each newsroom will select their fellows.

If you’re not a student but would also like to get involved by providing mentorship to the fellows, giving a workshop in the bootcamp or in another way, we’d also love to hear from you!

Get in touch with us at hello@journalismfellowships.eu