Submit Applications for FASPE Journalism Fellowship Program

Deadline: 03-Jan-2027

The FASPE Journalism Fellowship Program is an intensive two-week study program for journalism students and early-career journalists focused on professional ethics and ethical leadership. The fellowship takes place in Berlin and Poland and combines expert-led seminars, historical site visits, and interdisciplinary discussions to help participants examine the ethical responsibilities and challenges facing journalists today. FASPE Journalism Fellowship Program – Overview The FASPE Journalism Fellowship Program brings together journalism students and early-career journalists to critically examine professional ethics and ethical leadership in contemporary media. The two-week program takes place in Berlin and Poland, where fellows participate in specialized seminars, visit significant sites connected to Nazi history, and engage in interdisciplinary discussions with participants from FASPE’s Medical and Clergy programs. FASPE Journalism uses historical examples, including the conduct of German and international journalists during the Nazi era, to encourage fellows to reflect on professional responsibility and ethical decision-making in modern journalism. The program is not a Holocaust studies course or a genocide prevention program. Instead, history serves as a framework for examining the responsibilities of journalists and the ethical challenges that arise in contemporary media environments. Key Fellowship Details

- Program: FASPE Journalism Fellowship Program

- Field: Journalism and professional ethics

- Location: Berlin, Germany, and Poland

- Duration: Two weeks

- Participants: Approximately 13–16 journalism fellows each year

- Target applicants: Journalism students and early-career journalists

- Primary focus: Professional ethics and ethical leadership

- Program activities: Seminars, historical site visits, interdisciplinary discussions, and ethics-focused study

- Preferred experience: Published or aired journalism through recognized news organizations

- General experience limit: No more than 10 years of professional experience

What Is the FASPE Journalism Fellowship Designed to Achieve? The fellowship is designed to help emerging journalists develop a deeper understanding of ethical responsibility, professional decision-making, and leadership in journalism.

Key objectives include:

- Examining professional ethics in journalism. - Developing ethical leadership skills. - Encouraging critical thinking about journalists’ responsibilities. - Exploring ethical challenges in contemporary media. - Examining the influence of technology on journalism. - Understanding the relationship between journalism and electoral politics. - Discussing the role and risks of advocacy journalism. - Examining how media coverage can normalize aberrant behavior. - Exploring responsible reporting in an era of widespread misinformation. - Encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to professional ethics. Why Does FASPE Use Historical Examples? FASPE Journalism uses historical examples, particularly the conduct of German and international journalists during the Nazi era, to encourage participants to examine how professional decisions can affect society. The purpose is not simply to study historical events. Instead, fellows are encouraged to ask how journalists can recognize ethical problems, respond responsibly to pressure, and maintain professional standards in difficult circumstances. This historical perspective provides a basis for discussing contemporary issues in journalism and ethical leadership. Fellowship Activities Each year, approximately 13 to 16 fellows participate in the FASPE Journalism program. Expert-Led Seminars Fellows participate in intensive seminars led by specialized faculty. The sessions focus on professional ethics, ethical leadership, and the challenges journalists face in contemporary media environments. Historical Site Visits

Participants visit important sites connected to Nazi history in Berlin and Poland

These visits provide historical context for discussions about professional responsibility, journalism, and ethical decision-making. Interdisciplinary Discussions Journalism fellows also participate in discussions with fellows from the Medical and Clergy programs. This interdisciplinary structure allows participants to compare ethical questions across different professions and examine how professional responsibility can influence decision-making. What Topics Does the Fellowship Cover? The curriculum addresses a wide range of contemporary journalism ethics issues. Technology and Journalism Fellows examine how technological developments are changing journalism and creating new professional and ethical challenges. Journalism and Electoral Politics The program explores the role of journalists in electoral politics and the responsibilities associated with reporting on political campaigns and elections. Advocacy Journalism Participants discuss advocacy journalism and the ethical questions that arise when journalists become involved in promoting particular causes or viewpoints. Media and the Normalization of Aberrant Behavior The curriculum examines how repeated media coverage can influence public perceptions and potentially normalize behavior that would otherwise be considered unacceptable or abnormal. Misinformation and Reporting Fellows explore the challenges of reporting in an environment where misinformation is widespread and journalists must make careful decisions about verification, context, and public responsibility. Who Is Eligible? The FASPE Journalism Fellowship is intended for journalism students and early-career journalists. Applicants must generally meet one of the following criteria: Graduate Students With Journalism Experience

Applicants may be eligible if they:

- Have some journalistic experience. - Are enrolled in a graduate program. - Plan to work as a journalist. Journalists With an Undergraduate Degree

Applicants may also qualify if they:

- Have completed an u