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.

ELIGIBILITY:

The 2026 RSF Fellowship runs from June until November and encompasses:

A comprehensive, hands-on training program in digital security, including 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

The RSF Fellowships are open to working journalists with at least three years of professional experience. This includes journalists working as full-time staff, freelance or citizen journalists, in any type of medium. We actively seek to promote diversity and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Expectations include:

Fellows are expected to be open to exchanging candidly about their processes, experiences, and challenges as working journalists within a group of peers from diverse backgrounds. 

Fellows are expected to share the knowledge they acquire during the fellowship program with colleagues in their home region. 

Fellows are expected to return to their home region or country of residence (including third countries of permanent residency) after the fellowship.

The fellowship program will be conducted entirely in English, and fellows are expected to speak, read, and write English fluently to fully participate in this opportunity.

Please be aware that:

The RSF Fellowship is open to applicants from any country where they are at significant risk due to their journalistic work. However, the possibility of returning to their country of residence at the end of the fellowship period must be demonstrated for visa application purposes.

RSF can only support journalists who work in independent media (i.e. no government or politically affiliated media workers will be considered).

BENEFIT:

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