Journey: Journalism Bootcamp

Join our international summer school to become a top journalist.

Applications are opened until April 13, 2026.

About Journey

Are you an enthusiastic journalism student looking to gain a complete toolkit of media skills from the industry's top professionals? Do you love to write but are also interested in other forms of journalism? Apply for the Journey international summer school – we will cover all your expenses for accommodation, travel, and meals!
The ten-day intensive Journey course offers a unique opportunity to learn about the latest methods and trends in media through seminars, workshops, and practical exercises. This journalism program is led by top professionals from renowned global media outlets and agencies such as CNN, The New York Times, VSquare, Reuters, Associated Press, and others. Our lecturers also include recipients of the prestigious Pulitzer Prize.

Learn from the best in the field, gain practical skills, build an international network of professional contacts, and become a great journalist.

How to Apply & Eligibility

Journalism and media students who have completed at least two semesters of university/college and have a serious interest in working in the journalism field.
Students from other disciplines who have experience with journalism or demonstrate a strong motivation to become journalists.
Fluency in English is a program requirement.
Previous journalistic work: Short list of relevant publications or clips is required in the application (writing samples, podcasts, video links, or photo galleries)
Age limit: The program is open to candidates born in or after December 1993.
Two-round selection: The selection process consists of two rounds.
1st round: evaluation of the submitted application and portfolio by an expert jury
2nd round: English language check.

For applicants from the following countries:

Czech republic
Slovakia
Bulgaria
Georgia
Hungary
Moldova
Poland
Romania
Ukraine
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia
Armenia
UK
United states
Belarus

What will you gain from your Journey?

Knowledge of current trends and best practices in modern journalism;
Practical experience creating longer stories with visual components;
Enhanced knowledge of journalistic ethics, together with a solid understanding of the basic principles of journalism;
The ability to report from the field in real time and in a foreign country, and to create written and audiovisual reports;
Experience working under the guidance of experienced journalists and editors;
The skills to collect and analyze data in an organized and timely manner, as well as to identify, develop, and utilize resources effectively;
Experience adhering to strict ethical standards;
Investigative techniques and guidance on how to compile a report;
Practice verifying the authenticity of information shared on social media.

Current year

Applications for the 11th iteration of the program are opened until April 13, 2026.

Schedule

	February 9, 2026	Applications open and should be completed online in English.
	April 13, 2026	Applications close. The online application must be completed and submitted by the deadline, 23:59 (CET). Applications received after the deadline or incomplete applications will not be considered for selection.
	April - May	An expert jury will select candidates for the second round based on the eligible applications received. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by May 15 at the latest. The second round, which consists of an English language check, will take place between May 19 and May 22. Successful participants will subsequently receive further details regarding the logistics of the program.
	July 31 - August 9	The Journey 2026 program takes place in Prague, Czech Republic. The Bakala Foundation will cover the participants’ costs for attending the course, including travel to Prague, food and accommodation, study materials, and visa fees, if applicable.
	September 2026	Participants submit a final project created during the Journey program with the support of their mentors. The deadline for project submission is September 7, 2026. (For more information about the project, please refer to the online application form.)

How does Journey work?

Watch our video to find out why participants are more than satisfied with the Journey program, and why our media mentors love coming back year after year.

Speakers of Journey 2025

Greg C Bruno

Independent Expert

Paul Casciato

University of Cambridge

Jeremy Druker

Transitions

Adam Entous

The New York Times

Petr David Josek

The Associated Press

Michael Kahn

Reuters

Erika Kinetz

Anastasiia Morozova

VSquare/FRONTSTORY.PL

Evan Perez

CNN

Jen Stout

Freelance Reporter, Keynote Speaker

Michael Winfrey

Bloomberg

Journey in numbers

years of the program

203

Journey graduates

countries of the world

10 10	years of the program
203 203	Journey graduates
17 17	countries of the world

Journey fellows

“It’s amazing to learn journalism from such experienced world-class journalists. It’s not “school theory”, we talk about real cases and learn from them. Participants from different parts of the world share insights about how journalism works in their countries which is fascinating, especially in countries where press freedom is not a given.”

Pavlína Černá

Czech republic

Journey 2021

“What I learned from the Journey program still influences my personality and the way I work. I think overcoming my insecurities and applying for this program was one of the best decisions of my life and provided me with valuable experience. I still remember almost every day.”

Nikolett Konda

Hungary

Journey 2021

“I believe we will stay in touch with the other participants as friends and for possible cooperation across borders. I'm glad that if I ever need a resource from the Czech Republic, Bulgaria or the USA for my work in the future, I can pick up the phone and call my friends from Journey.”