New fellowship to boost journalists’ skills on education topics

Through access to information, data and new perspectives, the European Journalism Centre (EJC) believes journalists can help drive societal change. Qualified journalism informs, fosters public debate, and creates awareness through independent and critical reporting.

That is why the European Journalism Centre and the Jacobs Foundation, which globally promotes child and youth development, have jointly established a new journalism fellowship programme. In 2019, we will manage six fellowships for professional journalists from Germany and the UK specialising in education and learning topics, funded by the Jacobs Foundation.

By enhancing their skills and connecting them to experts in the field, the EJC will support the selected journalists working for Spiegel Online, Die Zeit, Agentur für Bildungsjournalismus, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Nursery World, Children & Young People Now, and other outlets.

How will the journalists benefit from the fellowship?

Throughout the year, we will organise tailor-made activities (expert calls, site visits, bootcamps) which will help the fellows to strengthen and enrich their knowledge of child and youth development, learning, education tech, early education, parenting or brain development, as well as furthering their personal career development and goals.

An important element will be the fellows’ exclusive life-long access and interaction with the experts of the Jacobs Foundation Network, as well as their contribution to the BOLD blog of the foundation.

With these opportunities, the selected journalists will build a lively professional network, get inspired and informed by meeting and exchanging with colleagues, scientists and stakeholders in their field of coverage and beyond.

This fellowship programme gives journalists specialising in education the opportunity to advance their careers with unique access to experts and cutting-edge study results. In addition, the support of these skilled journalists and their media coverage helps driving innovative knowledge dissemination and public discussion on a topic which is crucial for the future of our societies.

Meet our new fellows and learn about their expectations

Jeannette OTTO, editor education, Die Zeit, Germany
Having worked for the education department of the weekly newspaper DIE ZEIT in Hamburg as a staff editor for 12 years, Jeannette has been covering topics of child development, learning, school, educational justice and educational policy as well as family and upbringing. “I hope to gain insights into new topics and fields of knowledge, meeting researchers and practitioners and finding new approaches.”

Armin HIMMELRATH, editor education, Spiegel Online, Germany
Armin is a freelance writer on educational subjects, presently on staff at SPIEGEL ONLINE. He has been covering early education, schools and higher education, vocational training and university subjects for several regional and national media in Germany for many years. “One of my aims is to bring new knowledge from scientists and practitioners to the public so it can be used by others.”

Silke FOKKEN, editor education, Spiegel Online, Germany
Silke works for SPIEGEL ONLINE writing mainly about education and learning. Previously, she worked as a freelancer for several German media outlets, mostly covering topics around childhood development, education and learning. “I would appreciate the opportunity to bring back home some new, interesting stories about learning and education.”

Laura MILLMANN, editor, Agentur für Bildungsjournalismus, Germany
Laura is an editor at the German ‘Agency for Educational Journalism’, specialising in the topics of education and teaching. Previously she worked as a freelance journalist among others for a children’s public radio programme and the news portal News4teachers.de. “I hope to be part of a dynamic network and thereby get to know journalists and researchers with the same interests.”

Helena POZNIAK, freelance journalist, The Guardian, The Telegraph, London Evening Standard, Future Magazine, etc., UK
Helena is an independent journalist writing on education, university research and science and technology careers. She writes for UK newspapers, technology magazines and universities. “I look forward to investigating some of my interests such as how schools are adapting to a fundamental change in young people’s approach to learning in a digital age or developments in the science of learning and experiential learning.”

Charlotte GODDARD, freelance journalist, Nursery World and Children & Young People Now magazines, UK
Charlotte is a British freelance journalist, copywriter and editor with more than 20 years’ experience. She writes a regular series of articles and reports for Nursery World and Children & Young People Now magazines, covering sectors such as health, education, youth justice and child development. “I hope the Jacobs Foundation’s one-year fellowship will expand my knowledge of new and innovative research and practice in the children’s sector in the UK and Europe.”

About the Jacobs Foundation

The Jacobs Foundation invests in the future of young people so that they become socially responsible and productive members of society. It funds global research on learning and child development, supporting innovative scientists and implementing practical projects in early childhood and rural livelihoods.

https://jacobsfoundation.org/en/