Central Eastern European Climate and Energy Policy Scholarship for Journalists

IJP are a non-profit organisation who have been offering journalist exchange programmes between Germany and more than 40 other countries and regions for more then 30 years. The purpose of these exchanges is to allow the participants to experience their host countries from a correspondent’s perspective, exchange knowledge and deepen their network while working in and reporting on a foreign country. This bursary aims to realise and improve the coverage of cross-border climate and energy issues in EU-member states as well as raise awareness for cross-border stories and their relevance for example as best/worst practice examples for decision makers.

The German-Central Eastern European bursary grants annual fellowships to journalists from Germany, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania who are interested in reporting in the field of climate and energy issues and gives them the opportunity to live and work abroad.

The IJP cooperate with Clean Energy Wire (CLEW) to provide the participants with a deeper and more detailed insight into the field. During the six to eight weeks of their stay in Germany or a Central Eastern European country, they will get to know the host country better, establish contacts to local journalists and deepen their knowledge about climate and energy issues. The participants will stay at a media outlet in their host country and be embedded in the daily workflow. They will also have the opportunity to work on their own journalistic projects and report about climate and energy issues for media in their home country.

After the exchange, the IJP encourage the participants to stay in touch with each other through the IJP alumni network, attend alumni meetings such as the annual Global Fellows Night and meet many of IJP’s former scholars from all over the world.

• 32 journalists from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary were trained as experts in the climate and energy sector. They have already published more than 140 articles, videos and other journalistic contributions in this field and will continue to bring climate and energy issues closer to the general public as multipliers in the future.     
• Two research trips were organised for journalists to Bratislava and Brussels. During the trips, the participants were provided with knowledge about the political situation in the EU in the climate and energy sector. During visits and discussions with experts, they were able to gain an insight into the situation on the ground and expand their journalistic network in this area.   
• The project also included the “Climate Talks” webinar series for journalists, which provided participants with extensive knowledge in the climate and energy sector in 16 events.