Life Under Occupation 2.0 Cross-Border Journalism Programme

Deadline: 20-Sep-2026

Life Under Occupation 2.0 is a cross-border journalism programme supporting journalists from Ukraine, Germany, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Moldova to report on the realities of Russian occupation. The programme brings together eight journalists to collaborate on joint investigations, features, multimedia stories, or podcasts for publication in Ukrainian and European media. Selected participants receive €900 scholarships, along with approved travel and accommodation expenses for a reporting trip to Ukraine.

About Life Under Occupation 2.0

Life Under Occupation 2.0 is the second edition of a cross-border journalism programme launched by n-ost, in partnership with the Public Interest Journalism Lab (PIJL) and with support from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. The programme is designed to encourage collaborative journalism on the realities of Russian occupation and strengthen reporting on issues affecting Ukraine and occupied territories. The programme will bring together journalists from five countries to work collaboratively across borders and develop journalism that can reach audiences in Ukraine and Europe. How Many Journalists Will Participate? The programme will select eight journalists: - Four journalists from Ukraine. - One journalist from Germany. - One journalist from the Czech Republic. - One journalist from Bulgaria. - One journalist from Moldova. Participants will work in international teams and collaborate on journalism projects throughout the programme. How Much Funding Is Available? Selected participants will receive a €900 scholarship to support their reporting. In addition to the scholarship, the programme will cover approved travel and accommodation expenses associated with a reporting trip to Ukraine. Travel support is intended to enable participants to undertake reporting activities while participating in the cross-border journalism project. What Will Participants Do? Participants will collaborate with international colleagues to develop journalism projects focused on the realities of occupation.

Potential outputs include:

- Joint investigations. - Feature stories. - Multimedia stories. - Podcasts. - Other collaborative journalism for Ukrainian and European media.

Participants are expected to contribute to a joint publication as part of the programme

Online Workshops in October 2026 Selected journalists will participate in four online workshops in October 2026. The workshops will address important areas for journalists covering occupation, conflict, and Ukraine, including: - The nature and everyday realities of occupation. - Trauma-sensitive reporting. - Security and safety. - Reporting on Crimea. The workshops will provide participants with knowledge and practical guidance that can support their reporting work. International Team Formation and Editorial Support Following the workshops and networking meetings, participants will form four international teams. Each team will collaborate on a joint journalism project with support from the programme. Participants will receive editorial guidance throughout the project, helping teams develop their stories and strengthen their reporting outputs. The cross-border structure is intended to encourage cooperation between journalists with different national and professional perspectives. Who Can Apply? Life Under Occupation 2.0 is open to journalists from: - Ukraine. - Germany. - The Czech Republic. - Bulgaria. - Moldova. Applicants should have professional reporting experience and demonstrate an interest in topics related to Ukraine and the wider context of occupation and conflict.

Relevant areas of interest include:

- Ukraine. - Occupied territories. - Human rights. - Conflict. - Security. - Related subjects connected to the programme’s focus. What Are the Participation Requirements? Selected participants are expected to actively participate throughout the programme.

Participants must be willing to

- Take part in the online workshops. - Participate in networking meetings. - Collaborate with an international colleague. - Work as part of a cross-border journalism team. - Contribute to a joint publication. - Receive and engage with editorial guidance. - Travel to Ukraine if the security situation permits. The programme’s working language is English. Travel to Ukraine Participants should be willing to travel to Ukraine for reporting purposes, subject to the prevailing security situation. The programme will cover approved travel and accommodation expenses for the reporting trip. However, travel to Russian-occupied territories will not be required or supported. This means participants can take part in the programme without being expected to enter occupied territories. Focus on Trauma-Sensitive Journalism One of the online workshops will focus on trauma-sensitive reporting. This is particularly relevant for journalists covering conflict, occupation, displacement, human rights violations, and communities affected by war. The programme therefore combines reporting collaboration with guidance intended to help participants approach sensitive stories responsibly. Focus on Security and Safety The programme also includes training on security and safety. This is an important component for journalists working on sensitive topics related to occupation and conflict. Participants can use the workshops and editorial support to strengthen their understanding of responsible and safer reporting practices before undertaking reporting activities. Reporting on Crimea Reporting on Crimea is another specific focus of the programme. Participants will receive guidance through the online workshop structure and can incorporate relevant issues concerning Crimea into their collaborative journalism work. The programme’s wider focus remains on documenting and communicating the realities of Russian occupation. Why Life Under Occupation 2.0 Matters Cross-border collaboration can allow journalists to combine different perspectives and prof