Deadline: April 7, 2026
Applications are open for the EJN Our Ocean Conference 2026 Fellowships. Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is pleased to announce an in-person Fellowship program that will support selected fellows to attend and report from the Our Ocean Conference scheduled for June 16-18, 2026, in Mombasa, Kenya.
The 11th Our Ocean Conference–and the first to take place in Africa–will focus on the theme of ‘Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future’ and will also explore Kenya’s domestic priorities, such as elevating youth ocean leaders and strengthening collaboration to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Fellows will travel to Mombasa, Kenya to attend the entire duration of the Our Ocean Conference negotiations, which will take place from June 16-18, with arrival planned for June 14 and departure on June 19. An Orientation Day, organized by EJN staff, will take place on June 15 and will provide training on the key topics of the conference and will feature guest speakers and a field trip.
Benefits
- EJN will cover non-refundable economy-class airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance and ground transportation costs related to fellowship participation. Organizers will also facilitate the press accreditation process and provide logistical support relating to the trip. Note that the process of obtaining any necessary visas is the fellow’s individual responsibility, though EJN will reimburse visa costs. Fellows will also receive a per diem to cover daily expenses during their time in Mombasa.
- Prior to the start of the conference, fellows will receive informational resources and technical support to help prepare for reporting at the conference. They will attend a pre-conference virtual workshop to meet their cohort and media trainers, discuss reporting opportunities and ask any questions to support pre-reporting and preparatory work.
- While in Mombasa, fellows will participate in a series of specially designed activities, including an Orientation Day with ocean experts on the key issues at this conference, daily briefings led by EJN’s media trainers and interviews with high-level officials. The fellowship will offer valuable insights into the Our Ocean Conference, and fellows will also engage with their cohort and exchange ideas for effective reporting and receive editorial feedback and guidance on their stories from EJN’s media trainers.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the fellowship, the applicant must:
- Be a professional journalist from or representing an established media house and reporting from a coastal country.
- Have previous experience reporting on ocean issues (examples include IUU fishing, MPAs, blue economy, sustainable fisheries).
- Clearly indicate the kinds of stories they will seek to pursue while covering the conference.
- Be available for the conference in Mombasa from June 16-18, arriving on June 14 and departing on June 19.
- Have a good command of the English language.
- Share an up-to-date resume/CV.
- Provide a letter of support from an editor, producer or supervisor who can confirm that your news reports will be published or broadcast in an established media outlet. Freelancers are welcome to apply but must provide a letter of support from a media outlet for which they intend to report.
- Provide recent, relevant and journalistic work samples which focus on ocean issues. These can be uploaded as documents or web links. Stories can be in any language as long as they are accompanied by a short English synopsis. Stories must have clear bylines and should have been published in the last 12 months.
Judging Criteria
Applications for conference Fellowships will be accepted until early April. Decisions will be communicated in late April.
They are looking for applicants who meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrated experience covering ocean and other environmental topics;
- Long-term commitment to the field of journalism and in continuing to report on these topics;
- A relationship with an established media house and possession of a signed letter of support from an editor/producer/supervisor agreeing to publish or broadcast any work produced during the fellowship.
Application
For more information, visit Our Ocean Conference Fellowship.
