Call for Applications: Cross Border Journalism Project "Asia-Mix: Water Issues"

March 3 2019

The spring 2019 call for applications for the cross-border journalism project “Asia-Mix: Water Issues” is now open.

We warmly invite journalists from Russia, Eastern Europe, the Baltic states, Caucasus and Central Asia to work together to produce stories through partnership and collaboration that transcend their national borders as a part of the Perspektivy programme (Программа “Перспективы”). Participants may undertake 1-3 day research trips in Central Asia in order to better understand water issues in the region.

Applications deadline is the 3rd of March 2019.

This is a new opportunity for journalists in the early and mid stages of their career looking for the chance to develop their skills in reporting on cross-border issues concerning countries in Central Asia, in order to enhance their professional network in this region.

This programme will involve the following activities:

  • workshops on basic journalistic skills on reporting in global media standards,
  • field exercises, working in teams with the support of experienced mentors, developig cross-border projects.

Examples of topics or areas of interests are:
  • usage of water, issues of irrigation systems and the energy industry
  • climate changes and the Aral sea
  • EBDR projects in the region focused on water usage

Participation is free of charge.

For successful candidates travel, accommodation and other small costs will be covered by the Perspektivy programme, including agreed costs of the research trips.

Provisional place is Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Provisonal dates:
18-31 March 2019 – distance (video-conferences and chats) team work on projects topics discussions and planning of research trips together with the Perspektivy mentors and Alumni based in Central Asia.

3-6 April 2019 – workshops on reporting regional issues in global media standards

7 April 2019 – teams meet up and work on projects with the support of the Perspektivy mentors

8-10 April 2019 – dates of the research trips, agreed costs are subject to reimbursement by the Perspektivy programme

10-30 April 2019 – distance phase to produce projects

Applications:

Deadline is the 3rd of March 2019. Successful candidates will be informed by e-mail on the 11th of March 2019.

Please click > here < to start online application

Organizers of the programme do not comment on any results of the applications evaluation.

Eligibility criteria:

Middle and early-career journalists and freelancers working in Russia, Eastern Europe, Baltic States, Caucasus, and Central Asia who did not participate in any of the Perspektivy programme activities before.

With 3-17 years of professional experience and who work and produce stories in Russian.

Perspektivy is a joint initiative by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Fritt Ord Foundation.

News

The freelance study is completed in 2025

October 15 2025

The share of freelancers in the media has been increasing for years in many countries, but until recently, there has been little research-based knowledge about the scope of freelance work and the working conditions of journalists, photographers, and critics without permanent employment in the media.

The Genocide in Gaza and Big Tech

October 14 2025

Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 3.30 PM at Cinemateket, Oslo
Fritt Ord, Masahat and Oslo Dokumentarkino invite you to a lecture and conversation with Nadim Nashif about Big Tech’s complisity in the genocide in Gaza.

New Oxford fellow – How Journalists Interview “Monsters and Victims”

October 14 2025

VG journalist Håkon F. Høydal has been awarded Fritt Ord’s journalism fellowship at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford in the spring of 2026.
His project explores what journalists can learn from new trauma research when interviewing both “monsters and victims” in crime and abuse cases.

What's happening in Georgia?

September 22 2025

Monday 29 September 2025 at 6.30–8 pm at Vega Scene, Oslo

“While art is often relegated to the bottom of financial priorities, it paradoxically becomes the first target of dictators.”

Fritt Ord invites you to a presentation of a hyper-relevant, upcoming documentary film “Untitled” from Georgia and a conversation with two film directors about the political developments in the country in collaboration with Oslo Dokumentarkino, Stray Dogs Norway, Viken Filmsenter and the Norwegian Film Federation. Journalist Ingerid Salvesen is the moderator. For the safety of the filmmakers, we will not mention their names in advance.