Transitions (formerly TOL) is a media development organisation and online magazine covering news and events in the 31 post-communist countries of Eastern Europe, Central Europe, South Eastern Europe, Russia, the Baltics, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. It was founded in the Czech Republic in 1999.
Transitions was founded as a non-profit organisation to replace the print magazine, Transitions. With the financial and professional support of the Open Society Institute's (OSI) Internet programme and support from the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), Transitions launched its digital version in July 1999. Since then, the organisation has worked with up-and-coming journalists from its target regions, providing training and professional development opportunities.
The media outlet won the NetMedia Award for Outstanding Contribution to Online Journalism in Europe in 2001, as well as the NetMedia Award for Best Innovation in Online Journalism in 2003.
It regularly runs paid and grant-funded training seminars for professional and aspiring journalists in different areas, including those working as foreign correspondents, as EU reporters, those in online publishing, or those working in new media.
Together with the BBC World Trust and The Guardian Foundation, Transitions has also launched several distance education courses on environmental reporting, new media, and education reporting. To date, it has helped improve the writing and reporting skills of hundreds of journalists.
With the Open Society Institute's Education Support Program support, Transitions has pioneered education reporting training in post-communist countries.
The organisation is also focusing on promoting solutions journalism.
Last updated: January 2023