Journalists-in-Residence by ECPMF and MFRR: free housing in Leipzig and a €1,000 monthly stipend for journalists under pressure, including from Ukraine, apply by 15 November

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium, through its partner the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), has launched a call for the Journalists-in-Residence (JiR) programme. The initiative provides temporary shelter, respite, and professional support in Leipzig, Germany, for journalists and media workers experiencing harassment, intimidation, or severe professional pressure.

Selected fellows receive full logistical and financial coverage, including rent-free furnished housing, a monthly living stipend of 1,000 euros, health insurance, and reimbursed travel and visa expenses. Fellowships run for three to six months during 2027.

The application deadline is 15 November 2026. The programme is open to media professionals residing in EU member states and candidate countries, including Ukraine.

What is funded

The fellowship covers essential living and relocation expenses to ensure a safe environment for rest or ongoing journalistic work. Fellows receive a rent-free, furnished apartment in Leipzig, basic health insurance, travel expenses for arrival and departure, and full coverage of visa fees. In addition, participants receive a monthly stipend of 1,000 euros to meet standard daily living costs.

The host organisation also provides optional tailored support based on individual needs. This includes access to psychological counselling, language courses, and a dedicated workspace in the ECPMF office. Participants may also access specialized journalism workshops covering investigative reporting, digital security, and social media management.

Who can apply

The call is open to journalists, media workers, documentarists, and press photographers who face harassment, threats, or pressure due to their reporting, or who urgently need a break from high-stress working conditions. Applicants must be legal residents of an EU Member State or an official candidate country within the MFRR mandate, such as Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Albania, Serbia, or Turkey.

Candidates must possess at least three years of professional journalistic experience and have a valid passport. Applicants also need verifiable language proficiency of at least A2 level in English, German, or Russian.

Conditions and requirements

Applicants must document the professional risks they face through third-party validation. Candidates are required to submit at least two reference letters from reputable human rights or media organisations confirming their professional track record, as well as the specific threats, intimidation, persecution, or mental health challenges resulting from their work.

Selected fellows can choose to spend their three to six months resting and recuperating, or continuing their journalistic investigations and publications at their own pace. The residency also serves as a platform for networking, international exchange, and finding professional solidarity.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via email directly to the programme management. The application package must include a completed JiR Application Form, a completed JiR Questionnaire, an updated CV, identification documents, and the two required reference letters from media or human rights entities.

Practical tip. Secure your reference letters well in advance of the 15 November deadline, ensuring your referees clearly substantiate both your three-year track record and the specific threats, persecution, or pressure you have endured as a direct result of your reporting.

All submissions undergo a comprehensive verification and review process. Following approval by the Selection Committee, successful fellows will receive formal invitations to relocate to Leipzig for their 2027 residency.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: mfrr.eu.