Media Resilience Lab 2026
The 2026 training programme covers investigative fundamentals, OSINT, data journalism, fact-checking, storytelling, digital security, and video reporting—co-designed and delivered by all three partner organisations.
At the end of the online programme, participants will pitch their projects and can apply for a fellowship to continue research and publish their reports, investigations, video reports or other media projects. Selected participants will receive a fellowship grant of up to €1,500 to implement their project with mentorship and editorial support. All participants who complete the online programme are invited to participate in the next modules of the Media Resilience Lab in 2027: trainings on cross-border journalism and to apply for the in-person Summer School for Collaborative Journalism in 2027.
Novaya Gazeta Europe will present current challenges and opportunities for independent journalists working inside Russia and in exile. The session will offer insights into their editorial work, reporting under restriction, and collaboration with freelance journalists.
TrainerMaria Epifanova, CEO at Novaya Gazeta Europe
LocationOnline, In Russian
Qazetci will present its work, the Azerbaijani media landscape, and opportunities for collaboration, with a focus on security challenges such as digital surveillance, device security, and risks for journalists working inside the country.
Trainer Leyla Mustafayeva, Editor-in-Chief of Qazetci
LocationOnline, In Azerbaijani
In this introductory workshop, the Belarusian Investigative Center will share its investigative methods, recent publications, and approaches to collaboration, with a focus on security challenges in the Belarusian context, including surveillance, source protection, and legal risks for journalists working inside the country.
TrainerInvestigative Journalist at BIC
LocationOnline, In Russian
During the programme participants also work individually with their assigned mentors on project development. Consultations by appointment.
90-minute interactive workshop. The fundamentals of investigative journalism: what qualifies as an investigation, core methodology, and how to develop a hypothesis.
TrainerJournalist from the Belarusian Investigative Center
LocationOnline, In Russian
What journalists need before working with data: cleaning, structuring, analysis, and working with large databases.
TrainerArnold Khachaturov, Data Editor at Novaya Gazeta Europe
LocationOnline, In Russian
Methods and tools for verifying information when state access to data is restricted.
TrainerAlena Pakala, Fact-Checking Journalist
LocationOnline, In Russian
How to build a long-form narrative: structure, character, scene, and working with an editor from draft to publication.
TrainerAleksandr Gorbachev, Editor at Novaya Gazeta Europe
LocationOnline, In Russian
Producing video investigations and multimedia content for broad reach.
TrainerGleb Belichenko, Head of YouTube Channel at Novaya Gazeta Europe
LocationOnline, In Russian
Working with open-source data: flight trackers, corporate registries, satellite imagery, and regional databases.
TrainerJournalist from the Belarusian Investigative Center
LocationOnline, In Russian
How to pitch an investigative story: structuring a compelling pitch, presentation tips, working with editors. Output: story pitch + presentation.
TrainerSergey Medvedev, Founder of jinn
LocationOnline, In English or Russian
Participants pitch their investigative projects to a panel of editors and mentors from all partner organisations. Session with breakout rooms. Selected projects receive a fellowship grant of up to €1,500.
TrainerParticipants of Media Resilience Lab with Editors and Mentors
LocationOnline, In multiple languges
Deadline
August 16, 2026, 23:59 CET
Selection
Applications are reviewed and verified by the partner organisation from the applicant’s country.
Due to in-country and transnational repression by the authorities of the target regions, all trainings and events of the Media Resilience Lab are by registration only. Jinn and partner organisations will review and verify all applicants and provide high security standards for trainings, consultations, and communication with participants. Further details on participation rules and security protocols will be provided upon registration.
Sessions are delivered in Russian, Azerbaijani, or English depending on the module and trainer. Find language details in the description of every training.
Participants who complete the 2026 online programme are eligible to continue in 2027. The second year of the Media Resilience Lab includes:
Online training on cross-border investigations in spring 2027.
A six-day in-person event in June 2027.
Early-career journalists and media workers from Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Russia—in-country or in exile; no prior investigative experience required
Journalists from other Eastern Partnership countries collaborating with displaced newsrooms or reporting across borders are also welcome to apply
Yes. Security measures including pseudonyms and camera-off participation are available. Your application is verified only by the partner organisation in your country.
The programme is free of charge for the selected participants.
No. You apply once and select which modules you want to attend. Foundation Level sessions are independent of each other. However you need to attend at least five sessions to be eligible for the pitching session.
No. A project idea is not required to be selected for the programme. However, in our experience, participants who come with an idea — even a rough one — get much more out of it: individual consultations with mentors are most productive when there is a concrete story or investigation to work on, and having a developed project significantly strengthens your pitch at the end of the course
At the end of the programme, participants can pitch their projects. Selected participants will receive €1,500 fellowship to implement and publish their media project with editorial support of one of the partner media. Completing at least 5 trainings of the online programme is required to be eligible.
Yes. Completing the 2026 online training programme is a prerequisite for applying to the in-person Summer School on Collaborative Journalism in 2027.
The Media Resilience Lab is a two-year programme (2026–2027) supporting independent journalism in Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Russia through editorial grants, training, investigative fellowships, and cross-border collaboration.
Jinn - Hub for Exiled Media and Collaborative Journalism (Berlin). Founded in 2022, Jinn supports independent media and civil society organisations in exile through training, funding, and cross-border collaboration: jinn-media.org
Novaya Gazeta Europe (Riga). An independent investigative newspaper. Covers Russia from exile with a network of correspondents, known for human rights and corruption reporting. novayagazeta.eu
Belarusian Investigative Center (BIC). An independent investigative media outlet covering corruption, sanctions evasion, human rights violations, and disinformation in Belarus and the region. BIC combines investigative journalism, data analysis, and fact-checking to expose abuses and hold actors accountable.
BIC is a member of OCCRP, GIJN, IFCN, EFCSN, and EDMO.. investigatebel.org
Qazetci. An independent Azerbaijani media platform covering politics, corruption, and civil society, with expertise in digital security and regional investigative reporting. qazetci.az
With financial support by the German Federal Foreign Office
Do you have any other questions?
Contact us by email team@jinn-media.org or via this form.
