Across borders: International programmes for journalists:

International Journalists’ Programmes 

How about working as a guest journalist in another country? Having the chance to spend two months researching a topic of your own choice abroad? Each year, this dream comes true for 120 journalists. It is made possible by an IJP scholarship that is supported by a large number of German sponsors. While abroad, the fellows send foreign correspondent reports back to their home media. This deepens their understanding of politics, business and culture beyond their own national borders, while at the same time fostering international exchange between media and opinion makers.

“International exchange programmes can help improve the quality and variety of reporting and support journalists in better understanding the complex relationships in a globalised world, in sensitively dealing with the challenges they face and in reporting on them in a balanced manner,” says Programme Coordinator Nicole Reuter. 

Master’s degree in transnational journalism 

The Université Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, the Franco-German University (FGU) in Saarbrücken and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz offer a master’s degree in transnational journalism. The programme sees students from Germany and France learning together in both countries.  

“I did my bachelor’s degree in France and found it very enriching to be able to broaden my journalist horizon by doing my master’s in Germany. I now work for a German media company in France, which would probably never have happened without the many contacts I established during the course,” says alumna Lucie Claudon.  

European Journalism Fellowships 

During the EJF programme year run by FU Berlin, scholarship holders can spend an academic year in Berlin and work on an individual study project or a larger research project. Journalists from eastern and western Europe, the Arab world and the USA are eligible to apply.

“How do journalists in different countries deal with fake news, hate speech or populism? This is the sort of question that is addressed and discussed in the EJF context. And to answer these questions, we give journalists the chance to visit editorial departments in German media, thereby forging direct contacts. At weekly guest lecturers given by academics, the fellows meet experts with whom they can engage in exchange,” says Professor Alexander Görke, director of the EJF programme.