In an age where the media landscape is rapidly evolving, there is a pressing need for fresh perspectives and innovative strategies. Herein lies the importance of nurturing young, dynamic minds interested in media research.
The MJRC Young Media Researchers Program is a training and mentorship initiative aimed at discovering and promoting young talents with an interest in media research. Launched in early 2023, the program seeks to equip the participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the media landscape and contribute meaningfully to it.
The program is not merely a platform for learning; it’s an avenue for young enthusiasts to engage with experts in the field, gain valuable insights, and build a robust network that could open doors to numerous opportunities. The program is designed to empower the participants, helping them carve out a successful career path in media research.
Who Is the Program For? Targeting Young Talents in Media Research
The MJRC Young Media Researchers Program is tailored for aspiring media researchers keen on expanding their knowledge base and honing their skills. These individuals are typically in their learning stages, actively seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and make their mark in the media industry.
The program welcomes young students from diverse academic backgrounds – from media studies, journalism, and communication to sociology, psychology, and data analysis. This diversity enriches the learning environment, fostering a multi-dimensional understanding of media research.
The program isn’t exclusive to those with a formal education in media. Passionate self-learners, independent researchers, and even curious hobbyists are encouraged to participate. The primary criteria for selection are a keen interest in media research, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to contribute to the study of media and journalism.
The program also welcomes young people studying for the BA degree who want to diversify their studies with a more practical experience. Participants can join the program as part of internships required by their university or to conduct school projects.
How the Program Promotes Young Talent in Media Research
The program adopts a comprehensive approach, combining theoretical instruction with practical, hands-on experiences. This blend of learning strategies ensures that the participants are well-versed in the principles of media research and adept at applying these principles in real-world contexts.
The program also offers guidance and mentorship from seasoned media professionals. These mentors share their experiences, insights, and wisdom with the participants, offering them a glimpse into the reality of the media industry. They provide constructive feedback, help participants refine their research techniques, and assist them in navigating the challenges of the industry.
Moreover, the program encourages collaboration and networking among participants. By working on group projects and participating in discussions, participants build strong relationships with their peers. These connections can prove invaluable as they advance in their careers, opening doors to collaborations, partnerships, and job opportunities.
However, the program aims to be highly practical. Participants are guided through the methodological process but are then assigned a research project to conduct on their own. The purpose is to engage them in research, help them produce highly qualitative work, and give them exposure through studies and articles published by MJRC and its partners.
How to apply
We receive applications for this program on an ongoing basis. Preferably, a letter of recommendation or an internship request from one of the applicant’s mentors is appreciated. However, we strongly encourage young people with an interest in media and journalism research to apply with their own research idea or with an expression of interest in engaging in one of our center’s ongoing projects.
The program is conducted remotely. In 2024, MJRC plans to also launch a formal course component of the program, with an in-person workshop, that will issue academically recognized attendance certificates.
The applications (a letter in English of 1-2 pages expressing their interest) should be sent to mjrc@journalismresearch.org with the subject “MJRC Young Media Researchers Program.”
Program Participants
Janvi Baweja
Janvi is a graduate of McDaniel College Budapest, where she earned a double degree in Political Science and Art History, with a minor in History. Her academic work has centered on the intersection of media, politics, art, and public discourse, with a particular focus on South Asia.
With over two years of experience in the non-profit sector, including her role at UNHCR, Janvi is now building her career at the intersection of media and politics. Her work reflects a strong commitment to understanding how narratives are shaped, circulated, and contested in today’s political landscape.
At the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC), Janvi is contributing to the project Decoding the Power Play: Media and Elections in 2024. Her research examines the interplay between media and elections in India, with a focus on the potential influence of political funding and media ownership on the electoral process.
Pius Fozan
Pius works at the intersection of philanthropy, media, and public policy, helping organizations take shape and ideas find their ground. They have worked with senior leadership to build institutions, lead strategic initiatives, and craft communications that matter. Trained in public policy at the Willy Brandt School and Central European University, Pius brings a sharp eye to systems and structures. As a photojournalist, their work has appeared in Politico, Scroll.in, The Wire, and The Diplomat, capturing moments where power, people, and policy collide.
Leonardo Ingannamorte
Leonardo is a Master’s student in International Relations at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna. His interests include conflicts, defense and security, and new and emerging technologies in security and military affairs. Originally from Russia, Leonardo received his BA and Master’s degrees in Law from Togliatti State University but decided to change his major after the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in order to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and stability. At MJRC, Leonardo is working on measuring the impact of new media technologies on military behavior in war as well as on drafting a report about the state of independent media in the Russian Federation as part of the Media Influence Matrix project.
Rayhan Jasin
Rayhan is completing his Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree in Public Policy under the Global Public Policy Track. He is currently studying at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna and will be continuing at the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals for his second-year. Originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, he graduated from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Oita, Japan, with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in International Relations. At the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC), Rayhan is contributing to the “State Media Monitor” project, focusing on the dynamics of domestic politics situation with the state of public media independence.
Siya Zhang
Siya is a dedicated student journalist currently pursuing her M.S. in Journalism at Columbia University. With an academic background, including a prior B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Siya has developed interests in AI-driven journalism, misinformation, and social media news engagement. Her reporting focuses on various topics, ranging from exploring AI's impact on news, AI deepfake commercial fraud, to stray animals in the city. Siya's internship experience spans news production, social media strategy, and multimedia storytelling. Fluent in English and Mandarin, she is passionate about investigating the technology in the evolving journalism industry around the globe to address contemporary media challenges.
Past Participants
Zara Aftab
Zara is skilled in communication and marketing strategies. Her proficiency extends to managing social media channels, planning and executing events, and utilizing various communication platforms for campaign planning. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights from
Central European University (CEU) in Austria, and a BA in Media Studies from
Kinnaird College for Women, Pakistan. At MJRC, Zara worked in the center’s Global Media Finances Map project.
Adrian Anton
Adrian has worked for local and national publications in Romania investigating how public money is spent. In 2022, he won the prize for the Best Local Press award and was nominated in the same year for the Best Debut category in the Superscrieri journalist competition. He is a student in the Journalism specialization at Ovidius University in Constanta. In August 2024, Adrian's research into the revenue streams in the Romanian media was
published by the Media and Journalism Research Center as part of its Global Media Financed Map
project.
Tatiana Chelli
Tatiana has completed the Master of Arts in Public Policy at the Central European University (Viena, Austria). Previously, she studied Law at the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and worked as a Legal Officer for a Criminal Prosecutor. Her interests are mainly focused on international law, human rights, public policy and climate change. At the MJRC she conducted research about how private companies support independent media in Argentina.
Francesco Danieli
Francesco holds a Master’s degree in History from the Middle Ages to the Present from the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. His interests range from military history and public humanities to European studies and democracy. He concluded a traineeship at the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) in Vienna, where he published a Policy Paper on the importance of future European Enlargement. At MJRC, Francesco conducted a comparative study of the Italian media landscape, focusing on the relationship between politicians and publishers at the national and regional levels.
Valeriia Dmitrieva
Valeriia completed her Master’s degree in Public Policy with a specialization in quantitative methods at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, she holds a BA in Political Science and World Politics from the Higher School of Economics (HSE). At the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC), Valeriia contributed to the “Decoding the Power Play: Media and Election in 2024” project, focusing on the dynamics of media influence and electoral processes in the Austrian parliamentary elections.
David Gheorghe
David is a dedicated and intellectually curious researcher currently pursuing his education at the National College
Scoala Centrala in the city of Bucharest, Romania. David has a passion for philosophy, history, and geopolitics, as well as collaborative media. At MJRC, Gheorghe worked on updating the center’s
study about Romanian media and journalism in the Media Influence Matrix project.
Pius Fozan
Pius works at the intersection of philanthropy, media, and public policy, helping organizations take shape and ideas find their ground. They have worked with senior leadership to build institutions, lead strategic initiatives, and craft communications that matter. Trained in public policy at the Willy Brandt School and Central European University, Pius brings a sharp eye to systems and structures. As a photojournalist, their work has appeared in Politico, Scroll.in, The Wire, and The Diplomat, capturing moments where power, people, and policy collide.
Leonardo Ingannamorte
Leonardo is a Master’s student in International Relations at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna. His interests include conflicts, defense and security, and new and emerging technologies in security and military affairs. Originally from Russia, Leonardo received his BA and Master’s degrees in Law from Togliatti State University but decided to change his major after the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in order to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and stability. At MJRC, Leonardo worked on measuring the impact of new media technologies on military behavior in war as well as on drafting a series of studies focused on technology and media in the Russian Federation as part of the Media Influence Matrix project.
Rayhan Jasin
Rayhan is completing his Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree in Public Policy under the Global Public Policy Track. He studied at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna and then continued at the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals for his second-year. Originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, he graduated from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Oita, Japan, with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in International Relations. At the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC), Rayhan is contributing to the “State Media Monitor” project, focusing on the dynamics of domestic politics situation with the state of public media independence.
Sydney Martin
Sydney is a graduate student from the East coast of United States with a keen interest in policy, law and freedom of speech. She holds a BA degree from D.C.’s American University in Communications, Law, Economics and Government (CLEG), and is currently enrolled in the Erasmus Mundus MAPP program with an expected completion date in 2025. At MJRC, she explored the relatively uncharted topic of ownership and financed behind companies specializing in AI solutions for media and journalism.
Tekla Sigua
Tekla is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Program in Public Policy (Mundus MAPP) student and EMJM Scholarship recipient at Central European University and the University of York. With a BA in Political Science and international study experiences in Georgia, Germany, Romania, and Austria, she will continue her academic journey in the UK from September 2025.
With four years of experience in Georgia's public sector, Tekla has worked in the legislative, executive, and legal-administrative branches, including roles at the Parliament of Georgia, Georgian Bar Association, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs LEPL Information Center on NATO and the EU. A recipient of multiple prestigious scholarships from the European Commission and the Government of Georgia, she specializes in EU policy, strategic communication, and disinformation resilience. At the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC), Tekla focused on mapping EU funding for media and journalism projects.
Oscar Mendoza Hernandez
Oscar holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, Austria. He has a deep interest in conflict studies, polarization, political communication, and democracy. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Russian. Originally from Colombia, Oscar holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and World Politics from the Higher School of Economics in Saint Petersburg, Russia. At MJRC, Oscar worked on the “Decoding the Power Play: Media and Elections in 2024” project, focusing on Mexico.
Manon Verougstraete
Manon is a graduate from the University College Maastricht where she completed an honors degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is currently one year into her master’s degree in European policy, a joint degree by the Central European University and the University of York. Passionate about understanding media dynamics and their societal impacts, Manon is contributing to a global mapping of media finances for the MJRC. Manon’s research at MJRC provided insights into the mediatic landscape of Belgium, her country of origin.
Siya Zhang
Siya participated in the program during her time as a student journalist pursuing an M.S. in Journalism at Columbia University. With an academic background, including a prior B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Siya has developed interests in AI-driven journalism, misinformation, and social media news engagement. Her reporting focuses on various topics, ranging from exploring AI's impact on news, AI deepfake commercial fraud, to stray animals in the city. Siya's internship experience spanned news production, social media strategy, and multimedia storytelling. Fluent in English and Mandarin, she is passionate about investigating the technology in the evolving journalism industry around the globe to address contemporary media challenges.
