The Arthur F. Burns Fellowship Program places 20 journalists from Germany, the United States and Canada in a newsroom on the other side of the Atlantic for two months. Internationale Journalisten-Programme (IJP) runs it from Germany, and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in Washington administers the US and Canadian side. It began in 1988 so German journalists could report on US politics from up close, became a two-way exchange in 1990, and added Canada in 2013.
Fellows join the daily work of the host newsroom, take on in-depth reporting there, and file for their home outlet as correspondents. Each round opens with a one-week introductory event in Berlin at the end of July, after which North American fellows take a one-week German course before travelling on to their host newsroom. More than 600 journalists have taken part since 1988.
Benefits & funding
- German fellows receive €4,000 plus a €1,500 travel allowance.
- North American fellows receive US$5,500.
- The award covers the transatlantic flight and part of the fellow’s travel and basic living costs. Work at the host organisation is unpaid.
- A one-week introductory event in Berlin, held 27 July to 2 August in the 2026 round.
- A one-week German language course in Berlin for Canadian and US fellows.
- Two months inside a host newsroom, arranged with national and regional media: ProPublica, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, Seattle Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, The Globe and Mail, CBC and WCVB in North America; Bayerischer Rundfunk, Deutsche Welle, Deutschlandfunk, FAZ, Der Spiegel, Süddeutsche Zeitung, taz, ZDF and Zeit Online in Germany.
- An alumni network of more than 600 journalists, held together by newsletters, events and the annual Arthur F. Burns Dinners in Berlin and New York.
Eligibility
- Journalists from Germany, the United States or Canada, aged 21 to 40.
- At least two years of full-time journalism experience.
- Working journalists, on staff or freelance, who can be released from their newsroom for the two months of the fellowship.
- A journalistic reference from a section head or editor-in-chief, which serves both as proof of professional work and as the employer’s consent to the leave.
- No degree requirement is stated.
- North American fellows take a one-week German language course in Berlin before their placement.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Eligible nationalities
Germany · USA · Canada
Experience required
≥ 2 yrs
Age requirement
21–40 yrs
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Application process
- 1Apply to the office that handles your side of the exchange: German journalists to IJP, US and Canadian journalists to ICFJ.
- 2Prepare a detailed CV in German or English, a passport photograph, a short motivation letter setting out the reporting you plan to do in the host country, and a journalistic reference from your supervising editor.
- 3German applicants send their documents to office@ijp.org; US and Canadian applicants write to burns@icfj.org.
- 4Submit before the deadline for your side. In the 2026 round that was 1 February for German applicants and 1 March for North American applicants.
- 5Selected fellows settle a host newsroom and travel to Berlin for the introductory week at the end of July.
- 6North American fellows finish the German course, then start the two-month placement across August and September.
Program timeline
1 February 2026
Deadline for German applicants, 2026 round
1 March 2026
Deadline for North American applicants, 2026 round
Introductory week in Berlin
27 July to 2 August 2026
Two-month newsroom placements
August to September 2026
not yet announced
2027 round