Applicants are encouraged to consider the theme in broad terms and investigate issues surrounding access to and delivery of justice in both legal and social senses. Applicants should explore issues surrounding justice in their country – in government, in business, within society, among interest groups, between individuals and within families – and draw parallels to the situation in neighbouring countries and the EU.

As Balkan states adjust to new economic and political realities, are all citizens equal before the law? Are all laws just? What of the impact on social justice issues such as access to education, equal opportunities and employment? Has the road to EU membership provided adequate protection for citizens at home and abroad?

The transitional economies of the western Balkans have, in the main, developed systems, values and legal frameworks that are broadly in line with those in the EU. However, unequal access to justice, haphazard investigation, weak enforcement and corruption are everyday realities. The task for our 2011 fellows will be to pitch fresh story ideas, which shed new light on regional and international justice.

Requirements

Applicants must
• be a citizen of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania or Serbia,
• have demonstrable experience in journalism,
• be able to communicate fluently in English (NB: reporting may be done in local languages),
• obtain the agreement of his/her employer to participate in the fellowship (where applicable).

Application

Here you can download the application form and the application guidelines.
Please send your completed application form as an electronic file by email to fellowship@birn.eu.com or send printed applications by post to:
Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence - Application
c/o: BIRN, Gospodar Jevremova 47/III floor, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia 

The deadline for submitting proposals is 1 March 2011. Successful candidates will be informed by email about the results of the evaluation and awarded project proposals by 25 March 2011.

Full information on the 2011 fellowship is available at fellowship.birn.eu.com.

More information on the fellowship programme is also available at www.erstestiftung.org/myproject.