Jiri Dienstbier Journalism Fellowship

About the fellowship

Description

Launched in 2014, the Jiri Dienstbier Journalism Fellowship is inspired by Jiri Dienstbier Sr.’s contributions to the fields of journalism, foreign policy, and human rights, and intended to further RFE/RL’s legacy of promoting more just and open societies through journalism. The Fellowship is a joint initiative of the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic  and RFE/RL.  

The Fellowship is a seven-month program, which equips Fellows with cutting-edge journalistic skills and involves them in the daily editorial debates and discussions that inform a professional and independent press. Fellows spend six months at RFE/RL’s headquarters in Prague, where they are placed with an appropriate language service to receive daily, on-the-job training and mentoring while working alongside RFE/RL’s seasoned professionals. After Prague, Fellows spend a final month at a local RFE/RL bureau. 

The main components of the program are:

professional mentoring alongside RFE/RL’s seasoned professionals 
training and development of journalistic skills on traditional, multi-media, and digital platforms 
participation in the daily editorial discussions that inform a professional and independent press 
understanding of the mission and practice of a professional, free, and independent media company

The Fellowship also features workshops on journalistic practices and tools; discussions with government officials, civic leaders, and regional analysts; visits to media outlets and news agencies; and professional development opportunities in the Czech Republic and abroad. Fellows will be expected to represent themselves and the Fellowship in English at events and in discussions relating to media freedom in their country. 

A monthly stipend in Prague and at the bureau, housing allowance, health insurance, and travel costs shall be provided. 

RFE/RL may change or cancel the Fellowship if circumstances unexpectedly arise that require such action. In the event that the Fellowship is changed or canceled, RFE/RL shall not be responsible for any resulting costs borne by the Fellow or any third party.

Questions?

Eligibility

The Fellowship accepts applications from journalists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

Eligible applicants should:

have a minimum of two years’ experience working as a journalist in their native language
be committed to working as a journalist in, or for audiences in, their home country
share RFE/RL’s mission
having a working level of English

How to apply

Application

Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. A complete application includes the following materials:

curriculum vitae, including current contact information
personal statement
2 letters of recommendation
3 work samples
message to Jiri Dienstbier

Application materials must be submitted in English.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and asked to participate in an online interview as part of the application process. 

In addition, please let us know how you learned about the Fellowship (e.g., RFE/RL’s website, Facebook, a professional or academic reference, etc.). 

Important Dates

Fellowship term: March 2, 2026 – September 30, 2026 
Application opens: September 3, 2025 
Application deadline: October 3, 2025 
Selection results announced by: October 31, 2025

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Privacy Notice for RFE/RL Fellows

Fellowship at RFE/RL is contingent upon the successful completion of a background security check performed after the acceptance of RFE/RL´s offer. More details and information about the collection and processing of your personal data will be provided to you together with the Fellowship agreement.

Questions?

Curriculum Vitae

Please attach your updated curriculum vitae. This shall include your name, email address, social media profile, phone number, present address, and permanent address; a detailed work history since completing your formal education; and educational background. Please also list any noteworthy distinctions or awards, and current or recent memberships in professional, political, or other groups. Please also state if you have received any type of certification (and at what level) of English language proficiency.

Personal Statement

Your personal statement is a very important part of your application and will be closely read and considered in the selection process. It should be written in English and not exceed 750 words. In your personal statement, please describe your journalistic experience, including your reasons for pursuing journalism; the values and convictions that guide your work; experiences that have influenced your journalism; and what you hope to accomplish as a journalist. In addition, please explain your reasons for applying for the Jiri Dienstbier Journalism Fellowship and what you hope to gain from it. You are also encouraged to briefly describe your idea for a personal project, which will be completed during the Fellowship.

Letters of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation are required with your application. One of your letters should be from a current supervisor or colleague who practices journalism and knows you professionally. The writers should explain their relationship to you and describe your qualifications, potential for professional growth and development, and reasons that make you an excellent candidate for the Fellowship. Letters must be submitted in English.

Work Samples

Please attach 3 work samples, on any platform, demonstrating your best professional work. Samples must have been published within the last 12 months before the Fellowship deadline. All samples must include a date and, if not in English, they must be accompanied by an English translation. In the case of video submissions, an English-language summary is sufficient. If translations are not your own, please state so.

Message to Jiri Dienstbier

What message about media freedom, democracy, and human rights in your country would you convey to Jiri Dienstbier? Feel free to be creative and use any format, including video.

About Jiri Dienstbier

Jiri Dienstbier Sr. was a well-esteemed Czech journalist, dissident, and diplomat. He began his career as a foreign correspondent for Czechoslovak Radio in the 1960s. Called back home after the 1968 invasion that he denounced on air; he was forced to take menial jobs. Dienstbier authored many samizdat articles on the poor state of human rights in Czechoslovakia. In 1979, the communist regime imprisoned him for three years. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, he became Czechoslovakia’s first post-revolutionary Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was appointed UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Former Yugoslavia in 1998.

Current Fellows

Erza Elezaj, Kosovo

Jiri Dienstbier Journalism Fellow

Elmedina Sabanovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina