Call for Applications: Jefferson Fellowships 2026 – Apply Before 10 March 2026

The East-West Center invites applications for the 2026 Jefferson Fellowships, a three-week reporting and study program designed to enhance public understanding of cultures, issues, and trends in the Indo-Pacific region through professional journalism.

This fellowship is open only to full-time journalists and focuses on in-depth reporting, research, and professional exchange.

Application Period: February 2 – March 10, 2026
Program Dates: October 25 – November 12, 2026
Destinations: Honolulu (USA), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea)
Program Theme: New Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence: Navigating AI’s Impacts on Societies and Economic Security in the Asia-Pacific Region

Program Overview

The Jefferson Fellowships aim to explore the multifaceted impacts of artificial intelligence across the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on both opportunities and challenges:

• Opportunities: AI enhances efficiency and growth in public administration, healthcare, disaster preparedness, manufacturing, agriculture, finance, and professional services. The UN projects AI could contribute nearly $1 trillion in economic gains across Asia over the next decade, potentially increasing regional GDP growth by 2%. Countries with advanced service sectors such as Singapore, South Korea, and Japan are expected to benefit most.
• Challenges: AI could exacerbate economic disparities between developed and developing countries, especially where limited connectivity, unreliable power, and skill shortages exist. Automation may displace jobs, while ethical concerns arise around data privacy, surveillance, indigenous communities, and environmental impacts.

Participants will engage directly with experts, researchers, and industry leaders in government, NGOs, and business, visiting hospitals, labs, schools, AI-driven factories, chip manufacturers, and AI farms to observe the technology in practice.

Eligibility

Ideal candidates for the Jefferson Fellowships:

• Are full-time journalists working in the Indo-Pacific region, including the United States
• Possess a minimum of five years of professional journalism experience
• Have professional fluency in English
• Can articulate the relevance of AI to their coverage and explain how the fellowship will enhance their reporting
• Are willing to create content during and after the program, including print, broadcast, blogs, or social media outputs

Indo-Pacific Region Coverage: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Online application form
• Letter of interest (max. 3 pages, double-spaced), including:
  • Overview of news organization or freelance work
  • Expected goals and story ideas for the program
  • Relevance of AI theme to coverage and audience
  • Proposed topic for fellowship paper and presentation
• Résumé/CV (max. 2 pages)
• Employer statement of support (not required for freelancers)
• Two professional references with recommendation letters

Funding & Costs

The program is funded by the Freeman Foundation, Mary Morgan Hewett Fund, private donors, partners, and media organizations.

• Scholarships: 10–12 full or partial awards (2–4 for US journalists, 8–10 for Indo-Pacific journalists)
• Included in full scholarship:
  • Roundtrip airfare and in-region travel
  • Lodging and meals
  • Ground transportation and airport transfers
  • Cultural activities and networking opportunities
  • Speaker honoraria and meeting venues
  • Experienced program escort and curated site visits
• Fellow contribution: USD $900 program fee, plus visa fees, health insurance, and baggage costs

Media organizations and participants are encouraged to cost-share expenses, demonstrating investment in professional development.

Participant Obligations

Fellows are required to:

• Submit a short paper (1,000–1,500 words) prior to arrival addressing the program theme
• Deliver a 10–15 minute oral presentation based on the paper
• Engage in journalist-to-journalist professional exchange, leveraging knowledge for collaborative learning
• Produce post-program content to disseminate insights to their audiences

This ensures fellows gain practical experience while contributing to broader professional knowledge sharing.

Key Benefits

• Direct exposure to AI impacts in healthcare, governance, manufacturing, and agriculture
• Networking with Indo-Pacific and US journalists and experts
• Opportunities for professional growth, cross-cultural insight, and reporting excellence
• Hands-on understanding of economic, social, and ethical implications of AI in the region.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering the fellowship. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.