RSF Berlin Fellowship Program – Empowering & Protecting Journalists in the Digital Field (2026)

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany will once again invite journalists from countries with restricted freedom of press and information to Berlin for our 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
• Holistic support for individual psychosocial needs

Commitment:

• Fellows must be available for 20–25 hours per week of training, workshops, and activities.
• Breaks in programming can be tailored for travel or work, but keeping a full-time editorial schedule is not possible during the fellowship.
• After completion, fellows are expected to conduct at least one workshop or training session in their country of residence, multiplying digital self-defense knowledge within their networks.

In addition to the program outlined above, RSF will cover:

• Visa and travel expenses
• Assistance with all visa-related matters
• A furnished studio apartment in Berlin for the duration of the fellowship
• A monthly stipend for living expenses
• Travel and health insurance
• Public transportation costs within Germany
• Travel to networking events and/or journalism conferences
• A co-working space in a Berlin media hub
• Touristic and social activities

• Open to working journalists with at least three years of professional experience.
• Includes full-time staff, freelance, or citizen journalists in any medium.
• RSF actively seeks applicants from diverse backgrounds.
• Fellows must be open to candid exchange about their processes, experiences, and challenges with peers.
• Fellows are expected to share knowledge acquired during the fellowship with colleagues in their home region.
• Fellows must return to their home region or country of residence (including third countries of permanent residency) after the fellowship.
• Fellowship is conducted entirely in English — applicants must speak, read, and write English fluently.
• Open to applicants from any country where they are at significant risk due to their journalistic work.
• Applicants must demonstrate the possibility of returning to their country of residence at the end of the fellowship (visa requirement).
• Only journalists working in independent media are eligible (government or politically affiliated media workers are excluded).
• Investigative journalists focusing on human rights-related topics (climate crisis, corruption, labor rights, migration) will receive positive consideration.
• Their experiences of threats or persecution directly related to journalistic activity.
• The digital threats they are encountering.
• The impact of digital security training on their personal safety, colleagues, and sources.