„Cross border observations: reliable coverage of local elections in Lower Saxony and
Armenia“ is a one-week program in Berlin organized by the Berlin Journalism School for journalists from Armenia. During their stay – most likely from August 22nd to 28th - ten selected participants will gain insights concerning the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany and the way regional elections are held here.

This will include lectures and a five day excursions to Lower Saxony, where regional elections take place on September 11th, 2016.

The participants will visit media outlets, campaign planers, opinion researchers and other institutions which are involved in the campaign as well as the election process itself. They will experience how German media is planning campaign coverage and work on concepts how to implement those experiences when covering their own elections. They will also discuss question like independence and objectivity of journalism and reflect their role in society.

The participants will work together on articles to be published or broadcasted in the media they are working for at home and on a program web page. By spending time and working together, the journalists can share knowledge of their nation’s media, exchange their experiences and expectations and form networks.

The program is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office program „strengthening cooperation with civil society in the Eastern Partnership countries" and organized in cooperation with the Armenian NGO „Journalists for the Future”. Application is open to English-speaking journalists of all ages from Armenia with

at least one year of professional experience. Travel expenses and accommodation

(in double rooms) will be covered by the program. We especially encourage journalists from regional media to apply.

In your motivation letter please describe both your professional background and

the reasons for your application in not less than 250 words. Furthermore a detailed curriculum vitae is required, if possible proof of your English proficiency and one or two examples of your journalistic work (in English, German or in Armenian). Send these documents via email only (pdf, in total not more than 5 MB) to armeniaelections@berliner-journalisten-schule.de not later than July 24th, 2016. Please send only certificates and recommendations if they appertain to your application (e.g. showing your experience in journalism or international cooperation). Do not send university diplomas, except those concerning your English proficiency.

If you have questions or need further information, please contact Clemens A. Schöll, head of the program, via email: clemens.schoell@berliner-journalisten-schule.de or via tel.: +49 30 23 27 60 09.

"Media - partners on the move for democracy, transparency and exchange" is

a nine-day program in Berlin organised by the Berlin School of Journalism for journalists from six Eastern Partnership countries. During their stay from November 14th to 22nd ten selected participants will gain insights concerning German media and the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany. This will include lectures and excursions. The participants will also visit institutions and NGOs, which are active in the Eastern Partnership countries, specifically in the media sector.

The participants will work together on articles to be published or broadcasted in the media they are working for at home and on a program web page. By spending time and working together, the journalists can share knowledge of their nation’s media, exchange their experiences and expectations and form networks.

The program is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office program "strengthening cooperation with civil society in the Eastern Partnership countries". Application is only open to English-speaking journalists of all ages from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. They should have at least one year of professional experience. Travel expenses and accommodation will be covered by the program.

In your application please describe both your professional background and the reasons for your application. Furthermore a detailed curriculum vitae is required,

if possible proof of your English proficiency and one or two examples of your journalistic work. Send these documents via e-mail only (pdf, in total not more than 5 MB) to mediapartners@berliner-journalisten-schule.de not later than September 20th, 2015. Do not send compressed files (zip/rar). Please send only certificates and recommendations if they appertain to your application (e.g. showing your experience in journalism or international cooperation). Do not send university diplomas, except those concerning your English proficiency.

If you have questions or need further information, please contact the head of program Clemens Schöll: clemens.schoell@berliner-journalisten-schule.de

Die Berliner Journalisten-Schule hat bis 2016 insgesamt 13 Jahre lang in Zusammenarbeit mit der Robert-Bosch-Stiftung jungen Journalisten aus Mittel- und Osteuropa die Gelegenheit zu einem Studien- und Redaktionsaufenthalt in Berlin geboten.

Die Medien sollen das Zusammenwachsen Europas verantwortungsbewusst begleiten. Dazu müssen die Journalisten Gelegenheit bekommen, über die Grenzen ihres Landes hinauszublicken.