RFE/RL Regional Reporting Fellowship

A free and vibrant media serves as a safeguard against disinformation, while promoting good governance and regional peace. The Fellowship is guided by RFE/RL’s mission to provide accurate, independent journalism in support of democracy and human rights. The program is financed by a grant from the U.S. Department of State. 

Fellows spend eight months in a local RFE/RL bureau where they will receive training, contribute to the day-to-day work of the Service they are placed with and be mentored by professional colleagues. During the second half of their in-bureau programs, Fellows will travel to RFE/RL headquarters in Prague for two weeks to receive additional training that augments the preparation they have received in the bureaus. 

The main components of the program are: 

• incorporation into the daily multi-platform operations of the RFE/RL bureau 
• training in the skills needed to produce professional multi-platform journalism 
• mentoring in editorial standards and adhering to RFE/RL’s mission 
• inclusion in daily editorial meetings to discuss editorial standards, decisions, and policies 
• exposure to the decisions, concerns, and standards that drive and distinguish the professional, independent press  
• support in efforts to network with other local media and pursue personal objectives and career goals 

The Prague trip also serves a vital networking function, introducing Fellows to colleagues in other RFE/RL language services, representatives of numerous Prague-based advocacy NGOs, and journalists working for Prague-based media outlets. Such contacts will expose Fellows to new professional resources and media trends.  

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend for the term of the program that is consistent with the local wage scale, workspace at an appropriate RFE/RL bureau, and paid travel to and from Prague.