Open call: SPOTLIGHTING – Turning the Lens on Journalism

SPOTLIGHTING seeks to shift attention to the work behind the news. We consume the news, but rarely see the people who make it. We are looking for images that reveal the labor of filling gaps in the public interest: the work of photographers, reporters, fixers, editors, translators, producers, and others whose efforts rarely make it into the frame. By bringing the how and the who into the light, we strengthen the human link between journalism and the public. Without those who verify facts and hold power to account, democracy weakens.

The European journalistic network n-ost is launching SPOTLIGHTING, a campaign dedicated to making the often invisible processes of journalistic work visible to the public. Funded by the German Postcode Lottery, the campaign aims to open public spaces for exchange about journalism and to make the importance of independent reporting accessible to a broader audience. A central element of the initiative is a photo exhibition in Berlin.

Beyond the exhibition, SPOTLIGHTING unfolds across digital and urban spaces. Posters and subway advertising will anchor the campaign in the cityscape, while digital content and social media formats will reach international audiences and extend the campaign beyond Berlin. Together, these elements form a multi-layered communication network that makes journalistic work tangible—visually and discursively.

SPOTLIGHTING turns the lens around.

We are not looking for polished newsrooms or the “lone hero” trope. Instead, we seek images that reflect n-ost’s core values: cross-border journalism that builds bridges across Europe, strengthens a shared European public sphere, and deepens understanding through multiple perspectives. We are looking for moments where collaboration replaces isolation—where diverse viewpoints meet and the fog of disinformation is cleared by the steady work of evidence.

Through documentary photography, SPOTLIGHTING reveals the realities of journalistic work: early-morning shifts, late-night deadlines, front-line risks, ethical dilemmas, meticulous research, and the unglamorous yet essential everyday moments that rarely enter public view. We want to show the intention behind this work, the values that guide it, and the direction it seeks to take. Who brings the missing picture—and what kind of world are they working toward?

Submission Guidelines & Rules

1. Eligibility

Open internationally to professional and emerging photographers, photojournalists, and visual storytellers. Submissions are also welcome from fixers, producers, and reporters who document their own working environments.

2. Submission Requirements

• Image count: Up to 10 individual images or one cohesive photo essay

• Artist statement: A short text (maximum 1000 characters) describing the “unseen” story behind the images

• Captions: Complete metadata for each image (Who, What, Where, When)

Submitted photographs must be suitable for public exhibition. Where required by law, photographers are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all necessary permissions or model releases from identifiable subjects. In cases where releases are not required (e.g. editorial or journalistic use), photographers remain responsible for ensuring lawful use of the images. n-ost assumes no liability for claims arising from the submission or use of submitted works.

Deadline for submissions: February 14, 2026, 17:00 CET

For submission use this form

All submissions will be reviewed by members of the n-ost team responsible for communications, photography-focused projects, and organisational outreach.

3. Technical Specifications

• High-resolution JPEG files (minimum 3000 pixels on the longest edge, 300 DPI)

• Basic color correction and tonal adjustments only

• AI-generated imagery and heavy digital manipulation are strictly prohibited to preserve the integrity of the campaign

• Each image should contain a caption written in metadata

4. Rights & Usage

Photographers retain full copyright to their work. Selected contributors grant n-ost a paid, non-exclusive license to reproduce, display, and distribute the selected images in connection with the SPOTLIGHTING campaign, including exhibitions, digital platforms, publications, and the n-ost website. This license also applies to future communications that reflect and promote n-ost’s mission and core values beyond the campaign.

All uses will include full credit to the photographer and the original caption.

5. Questions?

If you have any questions or need assistance in any way, please contact Ramin Mazur under photo@n-ost.org.