Anyone who satisfies the following minimum criteria may apply:
- You have at least five years of professional journalism experience. Student journalism is not included.
- You are working fulltime as a journalist in Asia. We prefer those working for Asian media organisations. Freelancers may apply, if journalism is your main source of income.
- You are comfortable in English, the working language of the AJF programme. We welcome journalists working in non-English media, but you may have to demonstrate your proficiency in English through a telephone interview.
- Your employers must agree in writing to allow you to participate in the Fellowship for eight weeks – four weeks online, followed by four weeks in Singapore.
The Fellowship is extremely competitive and, regrettably, we have to turn down many outstanding applicants each year. However, there is no “model” applicant and we aim for diversity in the participants’ professional profile and life experience.
In general, we are looking for Fellows who have made a professional impact in their work (shown through awards and commendations, for example) and have the potential for leadership and management roles within the profession or organisation, and a passion to excel.
You can be in any news medium – newspapers, magazines, television, radio or digital – and practising journalism through words, photos or video.
Past Fellows include those who work for media giants in Asia’s capital cities, as well as those from provincial media and alternative media including NGO media. What matters most is that you are making a difference in your country and community and aim to do more.