The Deutsche Welle (DW) traineeship is an outstanding program for journalists to study in Germany. This program contains seminars, workshops, short courses with DW editorial offices. Applicants who have journalism experience or are passionate about switching to journalism from law, economics, the sciences, or technology/IT, increase their skills in journalism concepts and wish to develop their innovative ideas can apply for this traineeship program.

The Deutsche Welle traineeship program is an 18-month-long journey that takes you around the world. During this time, you will gain valuable insights into business and science issues, as well as cultural, news, and sports-related topics. If you speak Chinese, Farsi, Spanish or any other language, you will support DW’s broadcast language departments according to your language proficiency. You will be part of the editorial teams from the beginning, writing and producing reports, conducting interviews, managing social media channels, and helping to produce TV and radio podcasts. DW training program is designed to be practical and hands-on, with seminars that will help you grow professionally.

The program covers the range of skills a journalist of the future needs: TV moderation, multimedia storytelling, data journalism, social media, and virtual reality – in seminars, workshops, and of course, the DW editorial offices and our correspondent bureaux in Washington and Brussels. DW trainees are involved in long-term innovative, international projects and have been honored with the CNN Journalism Award and the Grimme Prize in past years. After the traineeship, the trainees usually continue to work for DW.

Details of DW traineeship program 2025-2026:

Deadline: November 27, 2023 (12 p.m UTC +1)

Program date: January 2025
Ending date: June 2026

Duration: 18 Months

Location: Bonn and Berlin, Germany

application portal: DW e-recruitment portal (linked below)

Key topics of Traineeship:

• – Media and Information Literacy (MIL)
• – Media Viability
• – Media and Journalism Education
• – Innovation for Dialogue
• – Digital Rights

Program benefits:

DW journalism traineeship
• 18 months
• trainee salary
• international broadcaster in 32 languages
• crossmedia: TV, online and radio
• six months of seminars
• internships in Berlin and Bonn
• placements with DW foreign bureaus
• international multimedia projects
• well-known media trainers

• Improve your skills in TV, radio, or any other online format productions from basic ideas to professional production.
• Job opportunity with DW.

Internship period benefits and expenses:
– Trainees cover their living expenses in Bonn and Berlin with a monthly salary.
– Initial salary: 1,896 euros per month.
– After six months: Salary increases to 2,074 euros per month.
– Final six months: Salary further increases to 2,173 euros per month.
– For foreign bureau internships (Brussels or Washington): Up to 850 euros per month for accommodation.
– DW covers all work-related travel expenses.

Program : 

The traineeship includes:

• six months of theory and practice-oriented seminar modules in German and English
• nine months of placements with various DW editorial departments in Bonn, Berlin and one of our foreign bureaus
• a one-month internship elective

Requirements:

• Applicants must hold a university degree. College or equivalent in technology or IT, Science, Politics, Economics or Law.
• Must have initial experience in journalism concepts or be passionate to switch in journalism from other fields mentioned above
• Be able to work under deadlines independently or as a member of a team.
• Must be one of the DW’s native language speakers and have excellent knowledge of English (C1/C2) or German B1/B2)
• There is no age limit; everyone can apply.
• The DW program languages are the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Croatian, Dari, English, French, German, Greek, Hausa, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Kiswahili, Macedonian, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu.

Required documents:

• Updated Curriculum Vitae.
• Cover letter
• Photo
• Other support documents
• Work sample documents
• Passport or ID card or work permit.

How to apply:

Eligible applicants must fill out the online application form.

Apply NOW

the application process: 

there are three-stage process for DW’s bilingual (German-English) journalism traineeship selection:
– Initial round: Candidates submit online applications with work samples via the online system.

– Work samples must be in one of the DW program languages; multiple languages accepted based on language skills.
– No certified translation needed for work samples.
– Deadline adherence is crucial; applications sent by mail, email, or social media are not accepted.

– Second round: 50-60 selected candidates invited to an online assessment center in mid-May.

– Assessment includes tasks assessing creativity, team spirit, and language skills.
– Tasks include a general knowledge test, writing test, and camera test.
– DW editors, native speakers, evaluate candidates’ language proficiency.
– Approximately 20 candidates proceed to the final round, notified of their selection.

– Final round: Candidates meet with DW’s directors, chief editors, and top journalists for a panel interview to showcase their talents.

For more details, please visit the DW Traineeship Website

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