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2025 Jefferson Fellowships

The Jefferson Fellowships is a three-week reporting and study tour with the goal of leveraging news media to enhance public understanding of cultures, issues, and trends in the Indo-Pacific region.

Less than 3 months
On-site
Free
2025 Jefferson Fellowship

The East-West Center is pleased to announce the 2025 Jefferson Fellowships.

Theme: The Future of Food Security: Lessons from Southeast Asia 

Dates: October 5-23, 2025

Destinations: Honolulu, Indonesia, Thailand

This year’s Jefferson Fellowships program will explore growing concern about food insecurity in the Southeast Asia region caused by numerous challenges, including environmental conditions, rising prices, destruction of habitats, and disruptions in global supply chains. More details can be found here.

The broad purpose of the Jefferson Fellowships is to enhance public understanding through the news media of issues in the United States and the Asia Pacific through a three-week dialogue, study, and travel program that focuses on a particular theme. 

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm Hawai'i Standard Time on April 13, 2025.

Who should apply?

Ideal candidates:

  • Are a print, broadcast, or online journalist working in the Asia Pacific region, including the United States.
  • Possess at least 5 years of professional journalism experience.
  • Have the ability to communicate in English in a professional setting.
  • Have not participated in an East-West Center Media program within the last 3 years (i.e. after October 2022).

Preference will be given to journalists who clearly articulate the relevance of the theme to their areas of coverage and how they intend to use the knowledge gained to enhance the perspectives of viewers, readers, and listeners. Journalists are strongly encourage to generate content during and after the program in the form of formal print and broadcast stories, blogs, and social media communications.

The Indo-Pacific Region

For the Jefferson Fellowships, the Indo-Pacific region includes 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, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

Application:

Applicants must submit each of the following documents to be considered:

  • The online 2025 Jefferson Fellowships application form.
  • A letter of interest (maximum 3 pages, double-spaced). Letter should include: (1) a brief description of your news organization or freelance work, job duties and experience; (2) what you expect to accomplish and what issues you want to explore during the program, including specific story ideas; (3) the relevance of the theme to your audiences and areas of coverage; (4) how participation will benefit your work as journalist. Please also include a proposed topic for the paper and presentation you will share as part of the Fellowship (see Participant Obligations below).
  • Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages).
  • An employer's statement of support completed by the applicant's supervisor/employer indicating that the applicant has the support of their media organization to attend the Fellowship. (Does not apply to freelance journalists.)
  • Two (2) professional references with letters of recommendation.


For whom?

  • Job seeker
  • Freelance
  • Employee
  • Executive

Funding

Free

Duration

Less than 3 months