Deadline: June 12, 2017
The M100 Young European Journalists Workshop (M100YEJ) is inviting 15 Eastern Partnership and Russian journalists to Potsdam and Berlin, Germany, for 8 days in early September. The title of the workshop is “How to finance independent journalism – education, platforms, business models.” The financing of independent journalistic projects in transformation societies and autocracies is a key concern that impedes or at least hinders democratic processes and developments.
It is therefore crucial not only to impart journalistic tools of the trade and ethical standards, but also to provide young journalists from this region with information about the financing options available and which models are suitable for their ideas and potential readers, enabling them to realise their own journalistic projects and support democratic processes. The focus will be, among other things, the founding of independent journalistic platform or initiatives in the digital age, and developing sustainable financing models. On the basis of concrete examples, the participants will explore diverse financing options and analyse which ones will be suitable to their needs regarding their specific location and background.
In collaboration with important actors of independent journalism and foundations promoting an independent journalism the workshop will also tackle strategies to develop and maintain a community and on securing journalistic independence for the founders. With this information and an experienced founder as a contact person, participants conclude the workshop by creating their own concept for establishing an independent (online) medium.
Benefits
- M100 will cover the travel and accommodation expenses and help with the VISA facilitation;
- One-week workshop (plus arrival and departure) also includes a two-day stay as a guest student in various editorial offices and journalistic start-ups in Berlin and Potsdam;
- Participation in the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium. This year’s colloquium will present some 60 high-level representatives from the fields of politics, science, media, and relevant companies and institutions. Titled “Democracy or Despotism? The Renaissance of Dark Powers”, the event explores the impact of current political developments in Europe, the world situation after Trump’s first nine months in office, as well as the future and responsibility of the media.
Eligibility
- Open to young journalists between 18 and 27 years old from the countries of the European Partnership and Russia (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia)
Application Process
- Young journalists can apply by submitting a text in English to the following task (6,000 characters maximum, including spaces):
- Design a realistic concept for an independent journalistic medium which would be operable in your country or as a cross border project. Describe the content of this medium, the targeted reader- or usership and develop a possible way to financiate it (sketching is sufficient- no need to develop full business plan);
- Name some projects of your country or other countries that you know well and analyse why they function or why not. Also elaborate on which are the major obstacles for financing independent journalistic initiatives in your country.
- The application form includes the text (max 6,000 characters including spaces), a CV (with your date of birth and a photo), as well as a motivational statement, stating your reasons for applying for this particular workshop. Only applications in English are taken into consideration.
Please send your application by email by June 12, 2017 (midnight) to: application@m100potsdam.org
Please also share where you found the information about the M100YEJ workshop (Facebook, Twitter, Homepage, Newsletter, colleagues etc.). Selected participants will be invited to a Skype interview, and then the final decisions will be made.
For more information please visit M100 Young European Journalists Workshop.
