Valbona Bytyqi, Kosovo
Valbona has worked as a journalist at the news desk in the KOHA group since July 2019. Her professional experience includes Indeksonline, News Agency KosovaPost, and News Agency EconomiaOnline. Previously, she practiced her skills as an intern at KultPlus, KTV, and KALLXO.com. In spring 2025, Valbona participated in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program as well as the International Anti-Corruption Conference hosted by the Government of Lithuania. Valbona has her master’s degree in European integration and public administration and her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Prishtina. She is fluent in Albanian and English.
About RFE/RL’s Fellowships
RFE/RL’s fellowships contribute to the professional development of aspiring journalists while supporting media freedom and independence. Each fellowship is guided by our mission to provide accurate, independent journalism that supports democracy and human rights.
RFE/RL selects Fellows through a highly competitive process. Programs equip Fellows with innovative journalistic skills and involve them in the daily editorial debates and discussions that inform a professional and independent press. Through this process, our Fellows become standard-bearers of the journalistic profession and leaders in their communities, online, and on air.
Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship
The Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship is available to aspiring, independent journalists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation. In the cases of Belarus and Russia, only journalists living outside of these two countries can apply. The purpose of the Fellowship is to help journalists from the region pursue their profession in support of media pluralism and independence. Fellows spend six months at RFE/RL’s headquarters in Prague, where they are placed with an appropriate language service, and a final month at a local RFE/RL bureau (if applicable).
Jiri Dienstbier Journalism Fellowship
The Jiri Dienstbier Journalism Fellowship is available to aspiring, independent journalists in the Western Balkans. Fellows spend six months at RFE/RL’s headquarters in Prague, where they are placed with an appropriate language service, and a final month at a local RFE/RL bureau.