Ramallah – Palestine Journalism Hub (PJH) has concluded the training phase of the 2026 Independent Journalism Fellowship, following three online learning sessions and a three-day in-person workshop held in Ramallah. The programme brought together twenty journalists from across the West Bank, who will now move into the fellowship’s practical phase: developing and producing their journalistic stories with individual editorial mentoring and professional guidance.
The fellowship brought together journalists with diverse professional backgrounds and experiences, while giving priority to young independent journalists and those working in areas with limited access to journalism employment, training, and professional development opportunities. The programme aims to strengthen participants’ capacity to produce independent, public-interest journalism that reflects the realities and concerns of Palestinian society.
The training programme covered a wide range of professional themes, including the role of journalism in promoting human rights and democracy, alongside in-depth discussions on story development, narrative storytelling, journalistic writing, editorial framing, source development, and producing impactful stories rooted in people’s lived experiences.
Participants also explored the digital transformation of journalism, including digital security, the impact of algorithms on content distribution, digital rights, fact-checking and verification techniques, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools in journalistic research and production. These discussions aimed to strengthen journalists’ ability to protect the Palestinian narrative while promoting accurate, credible, and responsible reporting.
Prior to the in-person workshop, participants completed three interactive online sessions focusing on diversity and inclusion in journalism, equitable and inclusive media coverage, and the integration of gender perspectives into journalistic practice. The online programme also addressed the importance of creating safer working environments and preventing and responding to harassment within media organizations and during field reporting.
As part of the fellowship’s practical component, each participant presented two proposed journalistic stories—either written or multimedia—for discussion with the mentors and fellow participants. The proposals underwent collective editorial review covering story structure, character selection, editorial angles, human-centred storytelling, and strategies for strengthening each story before production.
With the training phase now complete, participants are beginning the fellowship’s mentorship and production stage. Throughout this phase, they will receive continuous editorial and professional support as they develop and produce their stories. Palestine Journalism Hub will also support the publication and dissemination of the completed stories through its network of local media partners and professional collaborations.
The in-person workshop carried additional significance given the current realities in the West Bank, where Israeli movement restrictions between governorates continue to limit opportunities for journalists to meet and collaborate. Beyond its training objectives, the fellowship therefore provided a valuable space for professional exchange, peer learning, and relationship building among journalists from different parts of the West Bank.
The Independent Journalism Fellowship forms part of Palestine Journalism Hub’s ongoing efforts to create a sustainable professional platform that supports emerging journalists, strengthens independent public-interest journalism, and contributes to the production of high-quality stories that amplify people’s voices and address issues of public concern. The fellowship will continue through October 2026, during which participants will receive ongoing mentoring while producing and publishing their journalistic stories.
