1. Expert mentoring: IPI’s expert mentorship programme creates a one-on-one space for sharing expertise, experience and lessons.
2. Peer mentoring: In newsroom-to-newsroom mentoring, IPI connects newsrooms at similar stages of development to discuss common challenges, brainstorm ideas or share learnings at eye level.

If you want to apply for one of these tracks as a 1) mentor, 2) mentee or 3) peer mentor, please follow these steps: 

1. Take a look at the general eligibility criteria below
2. If you want to be an expert mentor, click on the application link in the “for mentors” section and fill in the application form.
3. If you want to be a mentee or take part in peer mentoring, click on the application link in the “for mentees” section and fill in the application form.
4. IPI will vet applications on a rolling basis and reach out to you on the status of your application.
5. If your application is successful, IPI will arrange a match between expert mentors and mentees, or between newsrooms, and set up a digital kickoff meeting with both parties present.
6. From then on, IPI will encourage the mentors and mentees to find a mentorship setup that works for them, depending on interest and availability. For a period of approximately three months, you will be in touch with your mentor/peer newsroom and discuss projects, challenges and solutions. For commitment expectations, see the “Eligibility and expectations” toggle below. 
7. Upon your consent, IPI will add you to our Local News and Innovation Network on Slack. In this network, which brings together over 200 media innovators, news professionals and startups across the globe, you will be able to engage with other mentors and mentees, as well as media outlets taking part in other IPI innovation activities. 
8. After the three-month period, IPI will send you a feedback form to reflect on the mentorship process.

• Applicant newsrooms or individuals must be based in one of the following countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, and Ukraine.
• Journalists and media professionals at the mid-senior level can apply as mentees to the expert mentorship programme. 
• Newsrooms in all stages can apply to the peer mentoring programme.

As a mentee, you should be ready to:

• Take ownership and be proactive. You play a crucial role in defining the mentorship’s objectives and potential outcomes. Suggest the mentoring format and type that best fit your needs, and agree on the mentorship duration and frequency. Aim to lead the process and make the most of it!
• Dig into the problem you want to solve. To make the mentoring process effective, you should identify a specific question or challenge you seek assistance with.
• Recognize the advantages and limits of mentorship. Remember that mentorship is there to guide you, not to tackle all the challenges you face or provide ready-made solutions. Although mentors provide coaching and guidance, it is eventually up to you how you deploy the insights gained into your work.

Mentees are expected to be available to meet with their expert mentors for around 2-3 hours over a 3-month period. Mentees might be required to do preparation and follow-up work to the mentorship meetings, depending on what is agreed upon with the respective mentee. 

Apply to be a mentee.

• There is no geographic limitation for mentors.
• Journalists and media professionals with at least 10 years of experience are eligible to be expert mentors. 

As a mentor, you should be ready to:

• Listen to and determine the needs of the mentee. Once an understanding of the scope of the question or challenge is clear, present personal experience and guide the mentee along a viable path to approach their challenge. Useful cues include reference to similar experiences in your newsroom and what steps you took to solve it.
• Together with mentees, build a trusted relationship in which questions and advice are encouraged to be provided in both directions.
• Help the mentee find their own solutions. Remember you are there to guide the mentee, not to provide ready-made solutions or impose your opinions on them. Encourage the mentee to find out what works best for them.

Mentors are expected to be available for around 2-3 hours over a 3-month period. Although there is no monetary compensation for mentors, we trust that your contributions will significantly support media organizations in innovation and fulfilling their mission. Mentors’ profiles will be added to IPI’s online database. 

Apply to be a mentor

• Mutual agreement. All decisions on the format and type of mentorship (such as meeting frequencies, communication platforms etc.) will be based on mutual agreement.

• Clear outcomes. Before starting the mentoring process, we recommend that mentees and mentors agree upon what the primary focal points are by determining the objectives and desired outcomes of the mentorship. We recommend participants come to meetings with questions and considerations prepared, in order to ensure everyone’s time is spent productively.

• Two-Way Learning: Make a conscious effort to learn from each other. Mentors can learn from mentees’ fresh perspectives, while mentees can benefit from mentors’ expertise.

• Confidentiality. At the beginning of the process, mentees and mentors should agree on whether they wish to keep the process confidential. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and key learning with a larger audience.