Just announced and limited slots available, AlgorithmWatch has opened its Algorithmic Accountability Reporting Fellowship 2025/2026 — this is your last chance to secure full support, mentorship, and global visibility as you investigate the intersection of AI, power, and algorithmic systems in Europe. Selected fellows will join a cohort of journalistic and research professionals from across Europe to produce in-depth stories, features, or investigative reports on how automated decision-making affects society—especially marginalized and underrepresented communities.
Starting 15 November 2025 and running until 10 May 2026, fellows (up to 6 selected) will receive a gross lump-sum stipend of €7,400, split equally among team or individual grantees. This is an unbeatable opportunity to cover living expenses while working on high-impact journalism or data-driven research, with no cost to you. Fellows are also invited to an in-person gathering in Berlin at the kickoff, receive outreach support, mentorship from AlgorithmWatch staff and external experts, and are free to choose their media outlet for publication or work with AlgorithmWatch’s own platforms. This is a game-changer for journalists, researchers, and storytellers focused on technology, ethics, and accountability.
Eligible applicants must reside in an EU, EFTA, or EU candidate country and commit to reporting from Europe or European contexts around algorithmic influence—topics could include automated discrimination, AI governance gaps, data justice issues, supply chain scrutiny, or impact frameworks of surveillance technologies. The fellowship is open to individuals 18+ from diverse and minoritized backgrounds, and the selection process is designed to elevate voices often sidelined in the AI debate.
Approved projects should result in at least one journalistic product—such as a long‑form story, audio/video documentary, research report, or multimedia investigation. Fellows will benefit from peer exchange, editorial support, and capacity-building focused on narrative-driven journalistic research, not academic thesis work. The overall package offers transformational value—funded time to pursue independent reporting, mentorship, and a platform to amplify your voice on algorithmic accountability debates.
Unlike traditional fellowships offering salaries or stipends per month, this fellowship offers a fixed amount to be used flexibly during the six-month period. Applicants are encouraged to act fast, build their narrative proposals, and join a community of changemakers exposing automated systems’ hidden impacts.
This is not just another grant—it’s your chance to investigate AI’s hidden influence, produce real-world impact journalism, and join a fellowship designed for ethical storytelling and algorithmic justice. With mentorship, a fixed stipend, and global visibility, AlgorithmWatch invites you to apply now and become part of the movement holding automation to account.
1. Must be 18 years or older. No academic background in computer science required—but applicants should be familiar with AI accountability issues.
2. Must reside in an EU, EFTA, or EU candidate country and conduct research/reporting within Europe.
3. Must submit a narrative-driven research proposal focused on the relation between AI and power, with real-life or investigative angles—not theoretical or supply-chain only.
4. Must commit to delivering at least one journalistic output—e.g., article, audio/video feature, or report—by the end of the fellowship.
5. Proposal should focus on AI’s societal impact, especially regarding marginalized or vulnerable voices, algorithmic discrimination, or governance gaps.
6. Applicants from minoritized or marginalized groups are strongly encouraged.
7. Must commit to the fellowship timeline: 15 November 2025 to 10 May 2026, including an in-person gathering in Berlin at the start.
8. Must demonstrate strong writing or storytelling experience—journalists, researchers, content producers, or communications professionals welcome.
9. Must deliver final output independently or in coordination with AlgorithmWatch editorial support.
10. Application must include concept note, CV, relevant past work samples, and confirmation of residency in eligible country. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Duration
Six months: 15 November 2025 to 10 May 2026, with an in-person start event in Berlin, followed by remote or hybrid reporting as needed.
Stipend
Total €7,400 gross per fellow (individual award; if joint proposal, shared equally). This one-time sum supports research, production, and living costs throughout the fellowship. No additional salary, but mentorship, outreach support, and networking provided.
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