Published on: 23/12/2025 | Reading time: 4 minutes
RSF Berlin Fellowship Program: Empowering and Protecting Journalists in the Digital Sphere
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany is once again inviting journalists from countries with restricted press freedom and limited access to information to apply for its annual fellowship program in Berlin. Applications can be submitted online from 15 December 2025 until 15 January 2026.
The RSF Fellowship Program is designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for journalists. Fellows will be given the opportunity to step away from their daily professional pressures to recover from challenging working conditions, while acquiring new skills to better protect themselves through a comprehensive safety training program.
The Fellowship Program
The RSF Fellowship 2026 will run from June to November 2026 and includes:
- A comprehensive, hands-on digital security training program, including individual risk assessments
- Workshops on safety and resilience for journalists covering sensitive topics
- Peer exchange within a diverse group of fellows from different regions and professional backgrounds
- In-depth insight into the work of Reporters Without Borders as a global human rights organization
- Networking opportunities with German journalists and newsrooms
- Meetings with key stakeholders from German civil society and political institutions
- Comprehensive psychosocial support tailored to individual needs
Participants are expected to fully commit to all fellowship activities. On average, fellows should be able to dedicate 20–25 hours per week to training sessions, workshops, and program activities. While short breaks can be arranged individually for travel or limited work, maintaining a full-time editorial schedule during the fellowship will not be possible.
The fellowship aims to empower journalists to become digital self-defense multipliers within their professional networks. After completing the program, fellows are expected to conduct at least one workshop or training session in their country of residence to share the knowledge gained.
What RSF Germany Offers
In addition to the fellowship program, RSF Germany will cover:
- Visa and travel expenses
- Assistance with all visa-related matters
- A furnished studio apartment in Berlin for the entire fellowship period
- A monthly stipend to cover living expenses
- Travel and health insurance
- Public transportation costs within Germany
- Travel costs to attend networking events and/or journalism conferences
- Access to a shared workspace in a media hub in Berlin
- Social and cultural activities
Duration of Stay in Berlin
The fellowship will begin in early June 2026 and end in November 2026. Travel dates to and from Berlin will be coordinated with selected fellows. RSF will support the visa application process; however, selection for the fellowship does not guarantee successful or timely visa approval.
Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria and Requirements
RSF fellowships are open to working journalists with at least three years of professional experience, including full-time journalists, freelancers, and citizen journalists working in any media format. RSF is committed to diversity and strongly encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
Applicants are expected to:
- Be open to honest peer-to-peer exchange about professional challenges and experiences
- Share acquired knowledge with colleagues in their home region
- Return to their country or region of residence after the fellowship
- Have strong proficiency in written and spoken English
Please note:
- Applicants must demonstrate the ability to return to their home country for visa purposes
- Only applications from journalists working in independent media outlets will be considered
- Investigative journalists covering human rights issues will be given positive consideration
Digital Self-Defense Training Topics
- Operational security and risk assessments
- Online identity management and anonymity tools
- Secure communication and conferencing
- Password, account, and social media security
- Device protection for computers and mobile phones
- Website security for media outlets under attack
- Secure data storage and encryption
- Open-source intelligence (OSINT)
- Protection against digital violence, including online harassment and impersonation
How to Apply
You can apply for the RSF Fellowship 2026 until Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Please register here to complete the online application form and upload the required documents.
Application deadline:
Thursday, 15 January 2026, at 23:59 (CET)
Partners and Cooperation
The RSF Fellowship Program is implemented in close cooperation with taz Panter Stiftung.
To apply for the “Rest & Resilience” Fellowship offered by taz Panter Stiftung, please visit their online application portal.
The RSF Berlin Fellowship Program is funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises, with additional generous support from members and donors of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany.
