Cultural Journalists Study Visits

The experience of the ETE grants program shows that there is a strong interest in the intellectual and publishing production of the region, which outweighs to a great extent the level of mutual knowledge. Thus, the Cultural Journalists Study Visits project aims to fill that gap, providing an opportunity for direct encounters of cultural journalists with the publishing and literary arenas of those countries, as well as to provoke a wider public response. The mechanism of support is travel bursaries, enabling journalists from the region to visit another CEE country and study the publishing industry there, to meet colleagues, publishers and other actors in the field and come up with a series of articles to be published in their country of origin.

8 study visits were supported in 2005 - 2006:

1. Marin Bodakov, Culture newspaper, Bulgaria, 1251 USD

Aim: Study visit to research the contemporary Russian book publishing industry at the time of the 7th International Non/Fiction Fair of Intellectual Literature in Moscow, 30 November – 4 December 2005.

Outcomes: Publications in the Bulgarian press:

  Culture newspaper - Non/Fiction#7 – review, 22.12.2005
  Culture newspaper - Non/Fiction#7 in three interviews, 10.02.2006

1. Tetyana Oliynyk, Potyah 76 journal, Ukraine, 1200 USD

Aim: Study Visit to research the contemporary Bulgarian book publishing at the time of the 25th International Sofia Book Fair, 14 – 18 December 2005.

Outcomes: Publications in the Ukrainian Press:

  Potyah 76 – 25th Sofia Book Fair, 12.2005
  Potyah 76 – Ukrainian Literature in Bulgaria, 12.2005
  Mirror of the Week - Reading is a Matter of National Security, 06.2006
  Potyah 76 – Interview with Georgi Gospodinov, writer, 02.2006

Partner: Renaissance Foundation - Kyev

1. Alexandra Bubevska, A1 TV, Macedonia, 1800 USD

Aim: Study Visit to research the contemporary Czech book publishing at the time of the 12th International Book Fair and Literary Festival in Prague, 4 – 7 May 2006.

Outcomes: Programs on A1 TV in Macedonia after the visit

Partners: Dot Cultural Center - Skopje, Book World - Prague

1. Barbara Matejcic, Vjesnik daily, Croatia, 1300 USD

Aim: Study Visit to research the contemporary Polish book publishing at the time of the 51st International Book Fair in Warsaw, 18 – 21 May 2006

Outcomes: Publications in the Croatian press after the visit:

  Vjesnik daily – The Book Fair in Warsaw, 23 May 2006;
  Vjesnik daily– The Book Fair in Warsaw 2, 23 May 2006;
  Vjesnik daily - Grass criticizes Polish government, 22 May 2006;
  Vjesnik daily - Books in the soc-realistic Palace, 19 May 2006;
  Vjesnik daily– Gunter Grass does not avoid political engagement, 27 may 2006;

Partners: Mihaela Jovic – Zagreb, Book Institute - Warsaw

1. Piotr Dobrolecki, Literacki Ksiazki magazine, Poland, 1300 USD

Aim: Study Visit to research the Croatian book publishing

Outcomes: Publications in the Polish press after the visit:

  Library of Analysis - Croatia - Hard Times for Books, 18.o7.2006
  Library of Analysis - Arguments about Book Prices, 15.08.2006

Partners: Book Institute - Warsaw, Mihaela Jovic – Zagreb

1. Marta Dvorak, Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland, 1300 USD

Aim: Study Visit to research the Romanian book publishing Outcomes: Publications in the Polish press after the visit:

  Library of Analysis - Is it POssible to Live on Books?, 28.08.2006

Partners: Book Institute - Warsaw, Concept foundation – Bucharest

1. Mele Pesti, Eesti Ekspress weekly, Estonia, 1300 USD

Aim: Study Visit to research the Macedonian book publishing

Outcomes: Publications in the Estonian press after the visit

Partners: Dot Cultural Center - Skopje

1. Ani Burova, Literary Newspaper, Bulgaria, 315 USD

Aim: Study Visit to research the contemporary Czech book publishing at the time of the 12th International Book Fair and Literary Festival in Prague, 4 – 7 May 2006. Outcomes: Publications in the Bulgarian press after the visit:

  Literary Newspaper, The Prague Book Fair, 7.2006

Partners: Book World - Prague