The Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) announces the commencement of the application process for four prestigious fellowships in the field of investigative journalism, centred around addressing technical crimes, algorithmic offences, artificial intelligence, and digital security.

These six months fellowships, are set to kick off on February 1, 2024, under the banner of the ARIJ Fellowship program, which is developed in collaboration with the “National Endowment for Democracy” (NED).

In its eighth edition, this fellowship extends a warm invitation to investigative journalists from the Arab world. Eligible candidates should possess a minimum of five years of journalism experience, with a strong preference for a significant portion of that background dedicated to investigative reporting.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit a comprehensive package that includes examples of their published works, prior investigative reports, if available, and a well-considered proposal for an investigation. The proposed investigation should revolve around the theme of identifying and documenting harm within the realm of technology, with a specific focus on algorithmic crimes and infringements on the rights and well-being of individuals in the Arab world. This call for action arrives at a pivotal moment characterised by an ever-increasing reliance on automation and artificial intelligence throughout society.

ARIJ offers:

1. A production fee covering the completion of the investigation, totaling $800 per month throughout the fellowship (6 months).
2. Priority access to any of ARIJ’s training sessions free of charge.
3. Participation in ARIJ’s 16th Annual Forum for the year 2023.
4. A recommendation letter at the end of the fellowship, signed by ARIJ’s management, reflecting the fellow’s capabilities during the program. This letter is contingent on the completion and publication of an investigation during the fellowship.
5. Specialized training and supervision by trainers and journalists with expertise in the coverage of artificial intelligence technologies and investigative reporting in algorithms.

The application process for the fellowship begins on October 26, 2023, and ends on November 8, 2023. The accepted fellows will be announced during the last week of November.

Priority for acceptance is given to those with extensive investigative knowledge and experience. Other factors considered include the proposed investigation hypothesis, accompanying research, CV, previous work, reasons for applying for the fellowship, and an initial knowledge or experience in artificial intelligence techniques. Full commitment to working with ARIJ throughout the fellowship is required (5 days a week, 8 hours per day).