Chai Khana announces a part-time, four-month fellowship for entry level journalists and young professionals interested in digital media and motivated to improve their skills. The fellowship will include training and mentoring by Chai Khana staff, contributors and invited mentors and will conclude with a cross border project, produced by the fellows and published on Chai Khana’s media platform. 

 

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About Chai Khana

 

Chai Khana is an award winning, visually-driven storytelling platform. We cover untold human stories and connect  alternative, original voices across the region to reveal the lives of ordinary people in the South Caucasus. Chai Khana’s commissioned works have been nominated at internationally renowned festivals such as Visions du Reel, Annecy International Animation Film Festival and others. 

Since its foundation, Chai Khana has been supporting filmmakers, illustrators, journalists and photographers from the South Caucasus by bringing their stories to the spotlight. This fellowship is a unique opportunity to receive hands-on experience and be part of a diverse editorial team. The fellowship aims to cultivate media professionals who are eager to put their stories in a larger context and be mentored by some of the best trainers from, and outside of, the region. 

We believe that this initiative will significantly contribute to creating a new generation of independent, creative media professionals from the South Caucasus - a mission that Chai Khana stands for. 

 

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About the fellowship

 

Applicants must be citizens, or residents of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia or the conflict regions in the South Caucasus. Applicants with a strong command of English will be prioritized during the selection process.

All selected participants will receive a monthly stipend of 300 euro for the length of the fellowship. 

The fellowship activities are based online, with very limited travel. All travel will depend on the pandemic conditions in each country. Chai Khana will finance the cost of travel and housing in Georgia for training and workshops for fellows living outside Tbilisi, if applicable. 

The fellowship includes:

 

- Mentoring in all three stages of production

- Developing professional skills through assignments, training and workshops 

- Collecting and analysing data from SM channels and Chai Khana’s platform

- Working as part of  a cross border editorial team  

- Fulfilling regular assignments and tasks designed to develop professional skills

 

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To apply, please provide:

 

1. Motivation letter

2. CVs

3. Work samples (if available) 

4. Recommendation letter

 

Please send the required documents, in PDF format, to info@chaikhana.media with the subject line “Fellowship at Chai Khana, September 2021.” 

 

For any additional questions please check FAQ bellow or get in touch with Teona Goderdzishvili at teona.goderdzishvili@chaikhana.media 

 

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FAQ

 

Who can write the recommendation letter?

Recommendation letters should be provided by media professionals who have worked with you or are familiar with your work. If you have not had any professional experience as a journalist, you can provide a recommendation letter from one of your professors at university or an employer at a different job. Likewise, letters from mentors or instructors are also acceptable. 

 

How many hours per day/week will be required to fulfill the fellowship? I have a job and want to understand the fellows’ responsibilities and time commitments. 

Fellows can expect to spend around 20 hours per week in training and working on assignments. Fellows are expected to turn in assignments and tasks on time and attend all workshops and lectures.  

 

The description says that the fellowship will include training and mentoring, as well participating in a cross-border project. What type of assignments are you planning and in which field (writing, filmmaking, photography?)

Chai Khana is a multimedia platform, and the fellowship work will reflect the platform’s work. The crossborder projects will involve filmmaking, photography and writing. The assignments and other tasks will focus on giving you the skills you need to complete the crossborder project and further your career as a digital storyteller. 

 

Should I have experience in a specific field for this fellowship?

The most important thing is to exhibit a strong interest and commitment to working in the field of media/journalism. If you do not come from a journalism background, please provide ample information about why you are interested in the fellowship and how you will use the fellowship to transition to a journalism/media career. 

 

Who should write the recommendation letter and what questions/topics should it cover?

The purpose of the recommendation letter is to provide insight into your work/education experience and your commitment to journalism. The letter can be provided by an employer, professor, instructor or mentor. 

 

What should I provide as work samples?

Please provide samples of your journalism-related work. If you are a photographer, provide several examples from your portfolio. 

 

Is a strong command of English important for the fellowship?

A strong command of the English language is important as some training courses will be conducted in English.

 

I am a native English speaker and a resident of Georgia. I do not yet speak enough Georgian or Russian to be able to report in a non-anglophone environment. Is that ok?

Thank you for your interest in the fellowship program. Your application will be considered by the selection committee although priority will be given to applicants who are fluent in English and a local language due to the fellowship’s curriculum and training program. 

 

Can I send my work samples in Georgian (or other local language)?

Work samples can be provided in a local language.

 

Can I send a motivation letter and other documents in Georgian (or other local language?

All supporting documents can be provided in a local language. 

 

How important is the recommendation letter for my application?

All supporting documents, including a recommendation letter, are mandatory to be considered for the fellowship.

 

Will the meetings and/or training be held online or in person?

At this point, all meetings are planned to be held virtually, over zoom. In the event the situation changes and in-person meetings can be held safely, Chai Khana will consider organizing an in-person workshop. All fellows will be informed about any changes to the virtual meeting schedule.

I wish to submit my application to this program. Therefore, I would appreciate it if you could specify the requirements for the motivation and recommendation letters, especially the word limits and who should write the recommendation letters.  

The motivation letter should be no longer than 500 words and the recommendation letter should not exceed 300 words. For more information about the recommendation letters, please see questions one and five.