Balkans: Journalists eligible for journalism training

The Balkan news media are increasingly required to report on complex economic, financial and political issues. Lacking the appropriate training, journalists are, however, underprepared to provide the public with an adequate coverage of economic and political transitional processes. To foster quality analysis and reporting on economic issues, enhance coverage on topics that are central to the region?s economic and political development and encourage regional networking among journalists, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Reuters Foundation initiated the programme "Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe".

Requirements
Applicants must be able to speak English and be full-time professional journalists who have been working for at least two years with a recognised publication, website, radio or television station. Applicants must have a portfolio that includes experience in economic journalism or must otherwise demonstrate a strong interest in economic and political issues.

Applying journalists must be citizens of Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, or Slovenia. They must have permission from their employer to take part in the programme. A detailed description of criteria and rules as well as a downloadable application form is available on this page and also at the Robert Bosch Stiftung website. The deadline is 22 February 2008.

Programme
Each year, twelve journalists from the Balkans are competitively chosen to participate in the programme, run by experienced ex-Reuters journalists. The programme includes two 10-day courses in London (12-23 May) and in Frankfurt (3-14 November). Participants will also travel to Brussels and Berlin to meet policy-makers and journalists covering European financial and political affairs.

The course will cover the following broader topics:

• Writing about emerging market economies
• Markets reporting and covering companies
• Practical exercises based on current European themes.

Participants will commit to a short story project during the programme. Fellows are encouraged to maintain contact and support new intakes through ReutersLink and an alumni network.