The independent center for journalism, Constructive Institute, is based at Aarhus University and provides further education for journalists and editors with the aim of improving journalism for the benefit of democratic development in Denmark – and the rest of the world.

With this new grant, the Novo Nordisk Foundation continues the support for Constructive Institute that began in 2020.

“We are proud that the Novo Nordisk Foundation is now further engaging in rethinking the role of journalism in the public conversation – a process that Constructive Institute fellows have unique opportunities to explore during their stay at Aarhus University,”

Ulrik Haagerup, founder and former news director at DR and editor-in-chief of Jyllands-Posten.

Through the Novo Nordisk Foundation Fellowship Program, experienced journalists and editors are given the opportunity to deepen their expertise within their journalistic fields, with the goal of strengthening the professional level in the newsrooms to which they return after completing their fellowship.

The journalists and editors also learn about the principles of constructive journalism, which aims to make coverage of major societal challenges more nuanced and forward-looking, to focus on possible solutions, and to involve, engage, and empower citizens to a greater extent than is often the case in today’s media landscape.

The first three editors and journalists to take part in the new Novo Nordisk Foundation Fellowship Program in 2025–2026 have already been selected and begun their fellowships:

Health reporter and Cavling Prize winner from Jyllands-Posten Tea Krogh Sørensen, climate reporter from Politiken’s climate desk Mette Guldagger, and Anne Sofie Schrøder, who has worked for, among others, Danmarks Radio and the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

The three fellows will focus on media coverage of, respectively, the challenges within the healthcare sector, the consequences of climate change, and the challenges and opportunities related to the use of life science.

So far, more than 100 Danish and international media professionals have received a fellowship at Constructive Institute, which was established in 2017.