ECJP

You might wonder how the five days programme looks like in more detail. Please find some answers here:

The five-day programme combines a variety of formats in order to explore the potential of cross-border collaboration and to encourage participants to connect with like-minded colleagues: Expert inputs provide the basics of cross-border collaboration, explain the method and reflect on the various roles of a team. In several working sessions participants further develop the story ideas selected during the initial pitch round when everyone presents his/her idea that will later form the basis of a collaborative investigation. Evening "fireside lounge talks" offer an informal, living-room-like setting to exchange about professional experiences and challenges.
The setting of ECJP can also be described as a sort of „mini conference” but also as a safe space where you get inspired, meet colleagues to build up working relationships and discuss topics of mutual interest.

The schedule, exemplarily, looks as follows:
Day 1: Landing and connecting: Departing around 2pm in Hamburg, driving to Siggen, spending the afternoon and evening to get to know the programme, each other and the location.
Day 2: Exploring and grounding: Pitching session, matchmaking round, beach work, fireside lounge talk
Day 3: Getting to work: collaboratively: Working session, Input, matchmaking if necessary, working session, evening off
Day 4: Full focus and integrating last ideas: Working sessions, practice Fireside lounge talk
Day 5: Rounding up and looking ahead: Presenting your story and receive feedback from experts and peers, wrap up and preparing for Dataharvest 2026, feedback, Leaving for Hamburg at 1:30pm (arrival around 3:30)

“The best networking and training opportunity I had so far in my career.” (Lyse Mauvais, France, ECJP 2024)

“I can take away a boost of energy, a renewed knowing that there are so many different and valuable professions and people and also a real network with whom take forward investigations.” (Anonymous, ECJP 2025)

“What really surprised me – and it’s something that definitely should be maintained in future editions – is how the process of reaching the final working ideas was so organic. Step by step, some ideas began gaining traction. [...] It was a privilege to take part in such an incredible learning experience.” (Vânia, Portugal, ECJP 2024)

“Getting to know colleagues from all over Europe is incredibly precious. The level of connection we got at Siggen can never be reached at any conference or similar event. It will definitely help us to work together further. Even if not on the pitched stories, but on future projects that we will come up with and share in the chat.” (Yulia, Russia / Europe, in exile, ECJP 2023)

“It's the best programme so far I have had a chance to participate in. Organizers did a brilliant job from selecting like-minded participants to shaping the program so it would turn out the best results. One of the biggest gifts was the opportunity to meet with peers from around the world, exchange contacts, learn from their experiences and do actual investigations with great support throughout the process. That is a fantastic experience with impact on our careers. Thank you for that!” (Migle, Lithuania, ECJP 2023)

“ECJP has been such a source of inspiration for me and I’m still coming back to the insights I got during the programme every once in a while. Thank you very much for the enormous effort you’ve put to pull it all together.” (Felicia Cretu, Moldavia, ECJP 2021)

“Going back home inspired to work on new things and I can't overstate how valuable it is for someone new to cross-border journalism to have a network like this to rely on/to collaborate with.” (Anonymous, ECJP 2025)

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