The Rațiu Forum, in conjunction with the London School of Economics’ Ideas think tank said Monday it was accepting applications for the 2025 edition of its Journalism Mentorship Program.
Young journalists from Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Ukraine are offered mentoring and guidance in the aim of helping them break into an industry that is facing enormous challenges but is more critical than ever in an era in which disinformation is rampant and extremism is in many places flourishing.
Applicants must be under 26 years old at the time of applying and have no more than two years of experience working in a newsroom are eligible to apply. The application deadline is October 14, 2024.
The program which is now in its fifth edition is designed to support early-career journalists through one-on-one guidance and strategic mentorship sessions, assisting them throughout the process of researching,producing, and publishing journalistic materials based on ideas proposed by the candidates.
Mentors include: Diana Oncioiu (journalist at Dela0 and Să Fie Lumină), Dan Perry (communication expert and foreign policy analyst, former Associated Press bureau chief for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean), Adam Reichardt (editor-in-chief of New Eastern Europe), Alison Mutler (director of Universul.net, former Associated Press
correspondent for Romania and Moldova), Emilia Șercan (lecturer at the University of Bucharest and journalist at PressOne), Nick Thorpe (BBC News correspondent for Central and Eastern Europe), Ovidiu Vanghele (journalist at Centrul de Investigații Media and Să Fie Lumină), and Luiza Vasiliu (freelance journalist).
For the 2025 edition, a maximum of 16 participants will be selected based on a careful review of their proposed topics. During the program, participants will benefit from both individual and group mentorship sessions.
“We continue to support the young generation of journalists from Romania and the region, and we are thrilled to have an exceptional team of mentors on board, who are willing to invest their time and energy to guide and shape early-career journalists. Additionally, thanks to our partnership with LSE IDEAS, we can offer selected participants access to international events organized by the London School of Economics, among other benefits,” said Nicolae Rațiu, Chairman of the Rațiu Family Charitable Foundation.
“When you’ve spent many years in journalism, every encounter with a young journalist is a joy. This mentorship program gives both us, the mentors, and those just starting out on the field, a chance to recharge our engines together. Honest and courageous journalism is needed now more than ever, which makes these professional training opportunities all the more valuable,” said Luiza Vasiliu, freelance journalist and program mentor.
Two selected candidates will present their original ideas to the mentors during the program’s kick-off meeting, which will take place at the Rațiu Center for Democracy in Turda. The proposed topics will be refined with the mentors’ feedback, then articles will be researched and written over the course of the four-month program.
The authors of the top-rated materials will be rewarded with publication in prestigious media outlets, opportunities to participate in international summer schools, and invitations to attend events hosted by LSE IDEAS, the think tank of the London School of Economics and a partner of the Rațiu Forum.
For full information, please visit the program page:https://ratiuforum.com/mentorship-2025,
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The Rațiu Forum is a joint initiative of the Rațiu Family Charitable Foundation (London), the Rațiu Democracy Center, and the London School of Economics’ think tank, LSE IDEAS. The Rațiu Forum is part of LSE IDEAS’ Central and South-East Europe Program.
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