The "Dragoljub Žarković" Award and Scholarship for Young Journalists

In memory of one of the founders of the weekly magazine Vreme, its long-time editor-in-chief, and his dedication to working with young people, the editorial team will award the first “Dragoljub Žarković” prize for young journalists under 30 years of age on October 29, 2026 – the day the first issue of “Vreme” was published.

They also invite students of journalism, communication studies, and social sciences interested in pursuing a career in journalism, as well as young journalists with no more than two years of work experience to apply for the already traditional scholarship for young journalists “Dragoljub Žarković”.

Pillar of Contemporary Serbian Journalism

Dragoljub Žarković shaped “Vreme” for nearly three decades until his death on February 5, 2020, but his influence extended far beyond the boundaries of our editorial office. As one of the key pillars of contemporary Serbian journalism, he set professional standards and personified courage in a time of pressure, deeply believing in the necessity of rejuvenating editorial teams and systematic work with young journalists.

In this context, Žarković tirelessly emphasized that professional standards can only be maintained through the transfer of knowledge, experience, and ethics to new generations. This led to the initiative for the prize bearing his name to also be aimed at young individuals, similar to the scholarship.

Who the Prize is Awarded To

The prize will be awarded to female and male journalists under 30 who have demonstrated knowledge, courage, social responsibility, and commitment to the public interest. In addition to the choice of topic, professional standards such as fidelity to facts, language, and the ethics of the profession will also be evaluated. Along with recognizing individuals, the goal of the prize is to convey the message that the knowledge, integrity, and energy of young journalists deserve institutional support and visibility.

The “Dragoljub Žarković” scholarship for the professional training of young colleagues is also part of this initiative.

During the internship at the weekly magazine “Vreme,” the selected scholarship recipient will work with mentors, media experts, editors, and journalists from our magazine who have extensive experience in the media, as well as in teaching at various courses and schools.

The entire program will be implemented from April 1 to November 30, 2026.

The program’s implementation dynamics will be tailored to the individual schedule and needs of the scholarship recipient. The scholarship program can be carried out alongside regular studies or occasional work.

A monthly scholarship of 200 EUR net is provided for the program participant. At the end of the program, the scholarship recipient will receive a certificate of successful completion of the program, as well as letters of recommendation from mentors.

Application Requirements:

– knowledge of the basics of journalism, motivation to work in the media, high ethical and moral standards, understanding of the social and political context.

Required Documentation:

– a sample of the candidate's journalistic text (it is not required to have been previously published);

– a motivation letter (which can be filled out within the application form).

All documentation should be sent with the subject line "For Scholarship" to the address stipendija@vreme.com

Application deadline: March 1, 2026.