Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany once again invites journalists from countries with restricted freedom of the press and information to Berlin for its annual fellowship program. Please apply online starting December 15th, 2025, until January 15th, 2026. The RSF Fellowship Program is designed to provide a safe space for journalists. Fellows will be able to take time off from their daily obligations to recover from their difficult working conditions. They will learn new skills to better protect themselves by taking part in a comprehensive safety training program.
The 2026 RSF Fellowship runs from June until November and encompasses a comprehensive, hands-on training program in digital security, incl. individual risk assessment, workshops on safety and resilience building for journalists covering sensitive issues, peer-to-peer exchange within a cohort of colleagues from different regions and professional backgrounds, insights into the activities of Reporters Without Borders, a globally-active human rights organization, networking with German media professionals and newsrooms, opportunities to meet with relevant stakeholders of German civil society and policy fields, and holistic support for individual psychosocial needs.
We expect fellows to be available for all program activities. On average, they should be able to spend up to approximately 20 to 25 hours per week on training, workshops and activities. There will be breaks in programming that can be individually tailored for travel or work purposes, but keeping a full-time editorial schedule while participating in the fellowship will not be possible. The fellowship aims to empower journalists to become multipliers for digital self-defense for their colleagues and networks of media professionals. Participants are expected to dedicate themselves to conducting at least one workshop or training session in their country of residence after completion of the fellowship.
The RSF Fellowship program is conducted in close collaboration with taz Panter Stiftung. To directly apply to next year’s taz Panter Foundation “Rest & Resilience Fellowship”, please visit their online application portal. The RSF BERLIN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM is funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, as well as the generous support of Reporters without Borders (RSF) Germany’s members and donors.
