Mongabay Opens Applications for the Southeast Asia Ocean Reporting Fellowship 2026
Environmental journalists across Southeast Asia have an exciting opportunity to strengthen their reporting skills and build their careers through the Southeast Asia Ocean Reporting Fellowship 2026. Organized by Mongabay, the fellowship is designed to support early- and mid-career journalists interested in covering critical ocean issues affecting one of the world’s most biodiverse and environmentally significant regions.
Applications are now open, and selected fellows will receive mentorship, training, publishing opportunities, and financial support while producing impactful stories on marine conservation, climate change, fisheries, and other pressing ocean-related topics.
About the Southeast Asia Ocean Reporting Fellowship
Southeast Asia is home to some of the richest marine ecosystems on the planet. However, the region faces growing environmental challenges, including climate change, marine pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction, and unsustainable fishing practices.
Recognizing the need for stronger environmental journalism to inform the public and policymakers, Mongabay established the Southeast Asia Ocean Reporting Fellowship. The program builds on the success of the Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship and aims to empower journalists with the skills, resources, and professional networks needed to report effectively on ocean issues.
The fellowship provides participants with hands-on experience working alongside experienced editors at an internationally recognized environmental news organization.
Fellowship Duration and Benefits
The 2026 fellowship cohort will run from September 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
During the six-month program, fellows will:
- Receive a stipend of $500 USD per month
- Earn a total of $3,000 USD throughout the fellowship
- Work remotely from their home country
- Gain editorial mentorship from Mongabay editors
- Build a professional portfolio of published environmental journalism
- Strengthen reporting, interviewing, writing, and investigative journalism skills
- Expand their professional networks across Southeast Asia and beyond
Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with editors from Mongabay’s Global Bureau, Southeast Asia team, and Oceans Desk.
What Fellows Will Learn
The fellowship offers extensive practical learning opportunities that help journalists sharpen both their reporting and storytelling abilities.
Participants will gain experience in:
- Developing story ideas and pitches
- Conducting interviews with experts and communities
- Investigative reporting techniques
- News writing and feature writing
- Journalism ethics
- Reporter safety and security practices
- Environmental storytelling
In addition, fellows will deepen their understanding of key ocean issues, including:
- Marine biodiversity conservation
- Fisheries management
- Marine pollution
- Climate change impacts on oceans
- Protected marine areas
- Community-led conservation initiatives
- Global biodiversity targets and implementation
By the end of the program, fellows will have developed a strong portfolio of environmental reporting focused on ocean conservation and sustainability.
Eligibility Requirements
Mongabay is seeking passionate journalists from coastal Southeast Asian nations who are committed to environmental reporting.
Applicants must:
- Be from and currently based in a coastal Southeast Asian country
- Have strong English-language reporting and writing skills
- Possess at least two years of journalism experience
- Be early- or mid-career environmental journalists
- Be available to commit approximately 10 hours per week
- Be able to work remotely throughout the fellowship
The fellowship particularly encourages applications from individuals whose identities and backgrounds remain underrepresented within regional journalism.
Eligible countries include:
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Malaysia
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Applicants from Singapore and Brunei are not eligible for this program.
Importantly, there is no formal educational requirement, making the opportunity accessible to talented journalists from diverse professional backgrounds.
Application Requirements
Interested candidates must submit the following materials in English:
Resume
Applicants must provide a resume of no more than two pages highlighting relevant journalism experience and achievements.
Cover Letter
The one-page cover letter should introduce the applicant and address:
- How environmental journalism aligns with their career goals
- Why they are a strong candidate for this fellowship
Writing Samples
Candidates must submit two original English-language journalism samples demonstrating their reporting and writing abilities.
Requirements include:
- At least one published article
- Preferably one sample related to oceans or environmental issues
- Original work written by the applicant
Applications containing AI-generated writing samples will not be considered.
Fellowship Expectations
Selected fellows will work closely with editors throughout the program and are expected to produce between four and six original stories in English for publication on Mongabay’s website.
The program requires approximately ten hours of work per week, making it suitable for journalists balancing other professional commitments.
Through regular editorial support and peer engagement, fellows will gain valuable insights into the professional journalism process from idea generation through publication.
Why Journalists Should Apply
The Southeast Asia Ocean Reporting Fellowship offers much more than financial support. It provides an opportunity to develop specialized expertise in environmental reporting while working with one of the world’s leading environmental news platforms.
Benefits include:
- International publication opportunities
- Professional mentorship
- Practical reporting experience
- Expanded environmental knowledge
- Networking opportunities
- Career advancement support
For journalists passionate about ocean conservation, climate change, and environmental storytelling, this fellowship offers a unique pathway to strengthen their reporting credentials while contributing to public awareness of critical environmental challenges.
Application Deadline
Applications for the Southeast Asia Ocean Reporting Fellowship 2026 are open until:
25 June 2026 (23:59 UTC)
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early, as submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
This fellowship represents an outstanding opportunity for aspiring environmental journalists to gain professional experience, build an international portfolio, and contribute meaningful reporting on the future of Southeast Asia’s oceans.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, 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.
