Accepting application for the 2024-2025 Milena Jesenská Fellowship Programme 2024-2025!
The Milena Jesenská Fellowship Programme honours the memory of Czech journalist, author, and translator Milena Jesenská (1896–1944) by providing time off from professional obligations for journalists in Europe (including those in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey) to conduct in-depth study on a subject of their choice.
Milena Jesenská (1896–1944) was a brilliant journalist, a political analyst, and a bridge builder between the Czech and German cultures in Bohemia. Because of her political activism and resistance, she was imprisoned in the Nazi concentration camp in Ravensbrück, where she ultimately perished in 1944. Her well-known communication with Franz Kafka has made her well-known.
The fellowship is organised by The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in cooperation with ERSTE Foundation: For a Europe that is changing, the fosters innovation and builds social, economic, and cultural infrastructure. The Foundation supports reform initiatives and advances regional development as well as civil society & Syndicate: The global alliance of over 430 newspapers, offers insightful, thought-provoking, and unique commentary from influential people throughout the world.
During the next Fellowship term (September 2024–June 2025), four Fellows are invited to spend three months each at the IWM in Vienna, Austria. Milena Jesenská Fellowships are meant to be given to cultural journalists as an honour for their brilliance; the term “cultural” is used broadly to refer to a wide range of academic and creative disciplines. However, one of the primary research areas of the IWM may potentially be connected to the work of the candidates. Candidates must have a stellar professional history and have worked for a number of years in print, broadcast, or online media. Students or entry-level journalists will not be accepted for interviews.
The applications will be assessed by an expert jury, who will then choose the finalists. The jury’s verdict will be communicated to the applicants during the spring semester of 2024. The jury is not compelled to provide applicants specific feedback on their applications or to publicly defend its choices. Generally, fellowships start on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month.
Location:
AustriaBenefits
- The fellows will receive a stipend of EUR 3,000 per month.
- In addition, the IWM provides them with an office including access to the internet, administrative and research facilities as well as other services free of charge.
Eligibilities
- European journalists (including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey)
- Applicants must have worked in print, broadcast or online journalism for several years and must have an outstanding professional record.
Application Process
- Visit the apply link by clicking on “APPLY NOW” button.
- Complete all the cells with necessary information.
Application materials consist of the following:
- a brief letter of motivation that addresses how the project would benefit from time at the IWM, the connection to the IWM’s mission and research, and concrete research/writing goals during the fellowship
- a project description (max. 550 characters)
- a project proposal (max. 7,500 characters incl. spaces) containing a description of the project’s a) objectives, b) the state of the art, c) methods, and d) a work plan
- a curriculum vitae including a list of publications
- two letters of recommendation are required: At least one from an editors, fellow journalist, or publisher. If applicable, one recommendation letter can also be provided by a scholar familiar with the applicant’s work
Note: Attached documents must be combined into a single PDF, as the online submission form only allows for one attachment. File names of attachments must use Latin characters. All application materials should be in English.
Application Deadline: January 28, 2024
Application ClosedOfficial link
