Fondation EurActiv PoliTech and the Robert Bosch Stiftung have signed to expand an innovative journalist training scheme to help young journalists gain experience of European Union policies and online media. One week’s intensive seminar, will be followed by a five-week internship with Fondation EurActiv PoliTech in Brussels, preparing the winning journalists for improved coverage of EU-related topics.

“It’s a win-win situation for both the selected young journalists as well as for their national editors. The journalists get an excellent training on EU policies and the use of online media and hence improve their future career prospects. The editors get a part-time correspondent in Brussels for the duration of the project, and once back in their home countries, a colleague  with first-hand EU-related experience. In the 2012 programme, journalists from Greece, Poland, Germany and the UK, published articles, ranging from radio interviews on “a day in the life of an EU official” to “implications of Scottish independence on EU membership” thus “bringing EU policies and practices closer to citizens” declared Julian Oliver, Secretary-General of Fondation EurActiv PoliTech.

“The aim of this expanded project is to build a network of young journalists with experience of working at EU level, the focus will be “How to Turn the EU Local – and Local Stories European” said Joachim Weidemann, founder of EurActiv.de and a former director of the Holtzbrinck School of Business & Finance Journalism.

“With this training programme we want to contribute to reducing a democratic deficit that affects debates on EU policies in many member states” explained Christian Hänel, Deputy Head of Department International Relations Western Europe, America, Turkey, Japan, India of the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

In early 2013, a dozen young journalists will be selected. Candidates from all EU countries are eligible to apply. An international jury will choose the 12 finalists. Selected participants will receive coaching and mentoring from senior EU practitioners after taking part in a five-day intensive seminar in Brussels.

Selection criteria include:

• A minimum of THREE and no more than FIVE years of journalism experience
• Currently employed by a media outside Brussels and full support of their employer to participate in the programme
• Austrian, British, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French German, Greek,  Italian, Polish, Slovak or Spanish nationality
• Availability for one week in March 2013 and 5 weeks as of 22 April or 03 June 2013
• Strong interest in European issues
• Very good oral and written English

The seminar in Brussels will include case-studies, role-plays and social media techniques. Topics may include: the ‘Future of Europe’, reforming the financial system and/or energy policy. During this period, a further selection will be made of the six most promising young journalists for the second phase, consisting of a five-week internship in Brussels, a trip to a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, opportunities to interview VIPs, access to an EU Summit, training between March and July 2013. Each of the selected journalists will produce articles for publication in their home media and EurActiv.com when appropriate. Participants will be reimbursed by Fondation EurActiv PoliTech, thanks to the Robert Bosch Stiftung, for their travel costs to and from Brussels and to and from Brussels/Strasbourg and modest living expenses while in Brussels. They will continue to be employed by their sending media.

Applications are welcome and remain open until 15 February 2013. For further details and to receive a copy of the project’s Frequently Asked Questions, please contact: selection@euractiv.com with ‘Bosch EU Journalism Fellowship’ in the subject line. More information on the Robert Bosch Stiftung can be found at: http://www.bosch-stiftung.de.

Julian Oliver, Secretary General, Fondation EurActiv, Tel.+32(0)2.226 5825, SecGen@EurActiv.org
Daniela Vincenti, Managing Editor, Tel. +32(0)2.788.36.69, news@euractiv.com

Dominique Ostyn, Senior Manager Communication & New Media +32(0)2.788.36.88, communication@euractiv.com
Christophe Leclercq, Founder & Publisher, EurActiv.com, +32(0)2.226.58.13, publisher@euractiv.com

Note to the editor:   

Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH: The Robert Bosch Stiftung is one of the major German foundations associated with a private company. It holds 92 percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH. Established in 1964, it represents the philanthropic endeavors of Robert Bosch (1861-1942), focussing on the fields of science, health, international relations, education, society, and culture.

Fondation EurActiv PoliTech is a Belgian foundation set up in 2003. Its activities include: research; advice for European media; logistical support to partners; training (to over 100 people, since 2004). Fondation EurActiv also provides EurActiv.com with guidance on editorial strategy and media independence. Over time it is widening its scope to include coaching on policy information and helping non Brussels-based on-line media to get a foothold in EU circles.

EurAcitv is the independent online media network dedicated to EU policy, counting 609,000 unique visitors monthly together with the Web 2.0 platform Blogactiv.eu. Set up in 1999, the network is an important working instrument for actors (institutions, industry federations, NGOs, think tanks, the press and others) involved in defining or influencing EU policies. The EurActiv Network publishes EU policy news and information in 15 languages from offices in the capitals of 15 European countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom and Turkey. The Network's national policy portals are accessible here www.euractiv.com/en/Fixed/about/crosslingual.htm
 
In order to provide free services and ensure independence, EurActiv's services are financed from four sources: corporate sponsoring, EurActor membership, online advertising and EU projects. General sponsors of www.EurActiv.com are: Assembly of European Regions / GE Energy, Enel, First Solar, the Nickel Institute, People First Foundation, United Technologies and VISA Europe. Section sponsors of www.EurActiv.com are: ArcelorMittal, Boeing, Camfil, Coca-Cola, Dow, Euro-ciett, General Electric, Honeywell, Microsoft, MSD, Swiss Mission to the EU, Trans Adriatic Pipeline, Unilever and Yara. Further supporters include: Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.

EurActiv also has 60 “content partners” (NGOs & think tanks) as well as ca. 500 “contributors”, providing their policy positions for free publication, based on EurActiv's editorial discretion. Input welcome: editor@euractiv.com. EurActiv content extracts can be re-used freely by other media, subject to clear attribution, and copy sent to content@euractiv.com.