Call for Applications: Transatlantic Media Fellows 2020

CHANGES BECAUSE OF COVID-19

Our Transatlantic Media Fellowships will continue in 2020. However, due to COVID-19, we are making two large changes to the Fellowship. Firstly, we are extending the application period for two months, until midnight EST on May 18, 2020. Secondly, we are pushing back the window for travel: it must be completed by October 31, 2020. This remains subject to change based on developments regarding COVID-19. As always, you may email Carl Roberts at carl.roberts@us.boell.org for any questions.

The Transatlantic Media Fellowships support well-researched transatlantic journalism. Each year, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC, sponsors a select number of journalists from the US, Canada, and Germany for an independent, transatlantic trip to research stories relevant to the foundation’s work on climate and energy policy, democracy and social policy, foreign and security policy, or technology and digital policy. Fellowships are selected annually and are open to journalists in any medium. Please note that eligibility criteria differ by issue area.

WHAT WE OFFER

The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung offers a stipend of $3,500. The stipend is meant to defray travel costs and serve as an honorarium.

WHO CAN APPLY

We seek journalists with a strong track record of publications, working in any medium, who offer new perspectives on transatlantic policy debates. 

We will give special consideration to journalists:

• from regional or local media outlets who can demonstrate that transatlantic reporting is a new and important perspective for their audience
• from diverse backgrounds who can offer lesser-heard perspectives
• whose story ideas would be informative for regional or local policy debates
• who may not otherwise have the opportunity to conduct transatlantic research

Note: We do not require fellows to be citizens of the US, Canada, or the EU; however, fellows are responsible for securing their own visas, if necessary. We can provide a letter of support for the visa application process.

ISSUE AREAS

1. Climate & Energy Policy

Applicants in this category should pitch stories on climate and energy policy in the US, Canada, or in EU member states. Possible topics include:

• The Green New Deal
• Phase-out of fossil fuels
• Sustainable transportation
• Environmental justice
• Climate migration

Research should be conducted in the US, Canada or Europe.

Applicants should be:

• based in the US or Canada and demonstrate a strong motivation for engaging in research and reporting in Europe; or
• based in Germany and demonstrate a strong motivation for engaging in research and reporting in the US or Canada.

2. Democracy

Applicants in this category should pitch stories on challenges to democracy in the US/Canada & in EU member states. Possible topics include:

• Challenges to democracy in the US, Canada, and Europe 
• Migration (climate-induced migration is of particular interest)
• LGBTQ & Gender equality
• Historical reconciliation/Vergangenheitsaufarbeitung (contemporary debates on confronting colonialism and debates on memorialization are of particular interest)
• The rise of the Far Right in the US, Canada, and Europe

Research should be conducted in the US, Canada, or Europe. 

Applicants should be:

• based in the US or Canada and demonstrate a strong motivation for engaging in research and reporting in Europe; or
• based in Germany and demonstrate a strong motivation for engaging in research and reporting in the US or Canada.

3. Foreign & Security Policy

Applicants in this category should pitch stories related to:

• Europe’s challenges to create a common foreign and security policy
• Europe’s foreign policy and human rights
• Europe’s defense, disarmament policies, and nuclear deterrence
• Migration to Europe and Europe’s response to it
• Challenges to democracy in Eastern Europe and the Balkans
• Europe’s relations with Russia

Research should be conducted in Europe and its neighborhood. 

Applicants should be based in the US or Canada and demonstrate a strong motivation for engaging in research and reporting in Europe.

4. Technology & Digital Policy

Applicants in this category should pitch stories on technology and digital policy in North America (United States and/or Canada) or in EU member states. Possible topics include:

• Data protection and network security
• Platform regulation (platform liability, disinformation, political advertising)
• Ethical concerns about the use of AI/ Big Data
• Green AI solutions/ Smart mobility
• Transatlantic debates over standards for new technologies
• Transatlantic debate over technological competition with China

Applicants should be:

• based in the US or Canada and demonstrate a strong motivation for engaging in research and reporting in Europe; or
• based in Germany and demonstrate a strong motivation for engaging in research and reporting in the US and/or Canada.

WHAT'S EXPECTED

Reporting: Reporting can be in the form of one longer, investigative piece, three shorter articles, or multimedia content (i.e., podcasts, videos, or photo essays). Each fellow is expected to publish content from their trip in any print or online medium 3 months after the end of the travel window. At a minimum, fellows must publish their pieces on our website.

Publication: Fellows must be able to either guarantee the publication of their pieces or to provide us with documentation of a completed story ready for publication. Fellows should demonstrate a strong track record of publications and/or media productions and should highlight this in their application.

Crediting the foundation: Fellows (and/or their employers) will retain full editorial control over reporting but must credit the foundation for supporting their research. The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC retains the right to publish the final pieces on its website following their publication. In cases where publication with a media outlet cannot be secured, articles will be published on the foundation’s website.

Active social media engagement: While traveling and developing their stories, fellows are expected to actively engage with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC over Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please read the instructions carefully as we will not consider incomplete applications. Applications should consist of:

1. Resume: Please use a standard US format. This means no picture, date of birth, marital or familial status, etc.
2. Cover letter: A one-page document outlining your motivation, qualifications, and experience. 
3. Proposal: Please include the following three sections:
   • Story proposals: Please include a short description of the stories you plan to cover (about 200 words each). You do not need to have interviews confirmed, but you should indicate whom you plan to contact. Please also specify the language of publication, medium, audience, and plans for publication.
   • Travel itinerary: Please outline your dates of travel, destinations, and possible interviews in each location. Travel should be for a minimum of 5 and maximum of 21 days and must be completed by October 31, 2020, not July 31, 2020 as previously stated.
   • Social media engagement: Briefly explain how you plan to engage with the Heinrich Böll Foundation in the course of your fellowship.
4. Work samples: Please submit two work samples. If your previous work is not in English, German, Spanish, or French, please provide a brief summary of each of your work samples.

Click here to submit your application.

The application deadline has changed to midnight EST on May 18, 2020. We strongly encourage early applications.

You can view previous fellows' work here.

If you are based in Poland, you can apply for a Transatlantic Media Fellowship from our Warsaw office here.

For questions and inquiries, please contact Carl Roberts at carl.roberts@us.boell.org.