Deadline: September 20, 2025
Are you a journalist or researcher passionate about exposing the invisible power of algorithms in our digital society? The Algorithmic Accountability Reporting Fellowship 2025 is now open for applications, offering a rare opportunity to investigate the systems behind artificial intelligence, automation, and data governance across Europe.
Whether you’re tech-savvy or just curious about the impact of digital technologies on social structures, this fellowship supports your mission to hold algorithmic systems to account. Read on for full details.
What is the Algorithmic Accountability Reporting Fellowship 2025?
The Algorithmic Accountability Reporting Fellowship 2025 is a prestigious six-month programme by AlgorithmWatch—a leading non-profit dedicated to algorithmic transparency and digital rights in Europe. Now in its fifth edition, the fellowship provides financial support, editorial guidance, and international visibility to journalists and researchers investigating automated decision-making and algorithmic power.
The fellowship empowers fellows to produce deeply-researched, impactful stories on topics like algorithmic bias, AI-driven surveillance, corporate lobbying in tech policy, and the opaque influence of automation on public life.
Fellowship Details
Here’s a quick summary of what this year’s fellowship offers:
| Fellowship Title | Algorithmic Accountability Reporting Fellowship 2025 |
|---|---|
| Host Organisation | AlgorithmWatch |
| Application Deadline | 20 September 2025 |
| Fellowship Period | 10 November 2025 – 10 May 2026 (6 months) |
| Stipend | €7,400 (gross) per fellow |
| Location | Remote, with in-person cohort meeting in Berlin |
| Target Audience | Journalists and researchers in Europe (EU, EFTA, or EU candidate countries) |
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is ideal for:
- Journalists (freelancers or affiliated with media houses)
- Researchers working on digital rights, automation, or data ethics
- Investigative storytellers focused on marginalised or under-reported communities
- Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds or perspectives in tech reporting
No technical background is required. What matters most is your curiosity, originality, and the societal relevance of your pitch.
What Will Fellows Do?
Fellows are expected to:
- Produce at least one major journalistic output (article, multimedia story, or report)
- Collaborate with editors and mentors from AlgorithmWatch
- Participate in a cohort experience, including an in-person session in Berlin
- Contribute to the public discourse on algorithmic systems and their real-world impact
AlgorithmWatch will also help fellows with editorial polishing, outreach, and securing publication in mainstream or specialised outlets.
Topics You Can Explore
Applicants are encouraged to submit project ideas that explore:
- Power dynamics in algorithmic decision-making
- Bias in AI systems and automated public services
- The political economy of data infrastructure
- Corporate lobbying and regulatory loopholes in tech governance
- AI supply chains and global labour issues
Your pitch can focus on local, national, or cross-border issues—so long as it offers clarity, impact, and insight.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should prepare a strong proposal with:
- A clearly defined story idea or research concept
- A timeline and basic budget
- Relevant background or work samples
- Explanation of the societal value of the proposed story
Deadline: Applications close on 20 September 2025.
👉 Click here to apply
📖 Read more about the programme here
Final Thoughts
The Algorithmic Accountability Reporting Fellowship 2025 offers a powerful platform for storytelling that can shift narratives and policies. If you’re keen to explore the human consequences of digital systems, this fellowship could mark a transformative chapter in your career.
Need Help Crafting Your Proposal?
Contact grantsdatabase.org for proposal drafting, refining, and review.
