First call of the FRONTIERS Residency Program receives 33 applications from science journalists

First call of the FRONTIERS Residency Program receives 33 applications from science journalists

The first call for applications for the FRONTIERS journalist residencies closed on 5 March 2024 and attracted 33 submissions. The competition was open to any science journalist interested in an immersive residency of three to five months at a research institution in the EU or associated country. Applications will now be evaluated by a committee composed of members of the FRONTIERS consortium and its Advisory Board. 

In this first round of submissions, journalists from five continents applied for residencies at host institutions in thirteen different countries.  There were applications from experienced journalists and junior ones with journalistic projects in all scientific domains.

The results of the selection process are scheduled to be announced in May 2024. New applicants and unsuccessful applicants will be invited to apply in the second call, which is set to open later this year.

FRONTIERS, the ERC-funded science journalism initiative

In early 2023, the European Research Council (ERC) selected the FRONTIERS project for its Science Journalism Initiative. The project provides science journalists with the opportunity to cover frontier science topics from within research institutions, ensuring total journalistic independence. FRONTIERS aims to tackle some of the challenges of science journalism, including the deteriorating employment conditions and resources available for science journalists.

The FRONTIERS project is run by a consortium of organisations that includes the Centre for Ethics in Science and Journalism (Italy), the NOVA University of Lisbon (Portugal), the Science, Communication and Society Studies Centre of the Pompeu Fabra University (Spain), and Enspire Science (Israel), which coordinates the project.

The FRONTIERS Info Day will be held on 15 Feb 2024

The FRONTIERS Info Day will be held on 15 Feb 2024

The FRONTIERS Info Day will be held on 15 February 2024, at 16h00 (CET).

The FRONTIERS team will present the project and the Residency Program for Science Journalists and answer questions from the audience. Béatrice Thiry, Communication Officer at the European Research Council (ERC) will also join the FRONTIERS Info Day to present ERC’s vision for a Science Journalism Initiative.

Technical Details

Platform: Zoom
How to register: write to info@frontiersmedia.eu.
Live-stream: FRONTIERS YouTube Channel (/@FRONTIERS_media). The recording will be available on the FRONTIERS’ channel after the end of the event.

The FRONTIERS Residency Program is Open for Applications

The FRONTIERS Residency Program is Open for Applications

FRONTIERS, the science journalism initiative funded by the European Research Council (ERC), opens today the first call for science journalists’ residencies. The residencies will allow science journalists to spend three to five months in a frontier research team at a host institution in an EU Member State or a country associated with the EU’s Horizon Europe Programme. Applications will remain open until the 5th of March 2024, at 17:00 CET.

The FRONTIERS residency program is available to science journalists of all nationalities, working with various media formats, and at different career stages. Applicants should submit a detailed project proposal, as well as work samples, recommendation letters and commitment letters from them and the host institution.

Selected journalists will have the opportunity to delve into research institutions, pursue independent reporting ideas of frontier research topics across various scientific disciplines, and participate in training sessions. A monthly allowance of up to €6,000 will support the FRONTIERS fellows during the residencies.

Four annual calls for residencies are envisaged between 2023 and 2026. Science journalists who have identified a potential host institution are invited to submit their applications at the FRONTIERS website.  Research institutions and research centres willing to host science journalists are also invited to express their interest in becoming host institutions.

For more information, visit the Call for Applications page.