The Robert Bosch Stiftung and Thomson Reuters Foundation accept applications for the 'Economic and Political Reporting from Southeast Europe' programme for journalists from the Balkans for 2010.

Fifteen journalists from the Balkans are competitively chosen to participate in the programme, run by experienced ex-Reuters journalists. The programme includes two 10-day courses in the UK (10-24 April) and in Germany (20 September-2 October). Participants will also travel to Brussels and Berlin to meet policy-makers and journalists covering European financial and political affairs.

Applicants must have fluent English and be full-time professional journalists who have been working for at least two years with a recognized publication, website, radio or television station. Applicants must have a portfolio that includes experience in economic journalism or must otherwise demonstrate a strong interest in economic and political issues.

Journalists from Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, or Slovenia are eligible for application. They must have permission from their employer to take part in the programme. The full Call for Applications as well as a downloadable application form is available on ReutersLink (www.reuterslink.org) and also at the Robert Bosch Stiftung website (www.bosch-stiftung.de/economic_reporting).

The deadline applications expires on February 14, 2010.

The programme was initiated in 2007, with the aim to foster quality analysis and reporting on economic issues, enhance coverage on topics that are central to the region’s economic and political development and encourage regional networking among journalists.