The Pacific Islands Development Program's quarterly publication Visions & Voices welcomes submissions of essays, articles, commentary, and concise pieces that pertain to the Pacific Islands region.

Submission guidelines: pireport.org/submissions

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.

For additional program information, including participant obligations and programmatic details, please visit the East-West Center website. If you encounter any difficulties with this application, please contact jefferson@eastwestcenter.org.
 

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 March 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.

In 2025, the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) at the East-West Center (EWC) and the Republic of China's (Taiwan) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (IDIA) will host a seven-week program that includes three-weeks in Honolulu, Hawai'i and four-weeks in Taiwan.

This program will provide individuals the opportunity to enhance their leadership capacities and build a network with other leaders from across the Pacific and Taiwan. Participants will engage in experiential learning in a cohort of 24 early to mid-career professionals from all sectors. PILP attracts participants possessing high leadership potential and a commitment to serve their national and regional development goals. The curriculum for these rising leaders will be centered around the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and thematically organized in the following areas identified in the 2050 Strategy Implementation Plan: Political Leadership & Regionalism, Peace & Security; Oceans & Environment, Climate Change & Disasters; Resources & Economic Development, Technology & Connectivity; and People-Centered Development. The program strengthens participants’ knowledge and understanding of key regional economic, social, political, health, educational and environmental issues, and cultivates culturally sustaining leadership capacities.

Program Dates:  August 1 - September 19, 2025 (Dates are tentative and subject to change)

Eligibility:

• Citizen of the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. 
• Bachelor’s degree. Exceptions may be considered on the basis of other relevant experience and qualifications.
• The program is aimed at early- to mid-career professionals.
• A minimum of 3 years demonstrated impact in your professional career and/or local community.
   

 AI Transparency

We are looking for authentic and genuine submissions that reflect your individual experiences, perspectives, and unique writing style. We understand that AI (artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT) can be a helpful tool in crafting your application, and applicants are not forbidden from using it to help with responses. However, essays that are generated primarily or solely by such tools will be rejected. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE

• 11:59 pm, March 1, 2025 (Hawaii Standard Time)

NOTE: Reference forms will be due no later than March 8, 2025 (Hawaii Standard Time)
 

 IMPORTANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES
 

• Read the instructions for each item carefully before entering your information.
• The application software does not log you out automatically when you exit your browser.  Therefore, it is important that you sign out from your application account especially when you are using a public computer.
• Since you will not be able to edit your application after submitting, make sure to review your application before submitting.  If your application is not ready, you can save it as a draft and submit it at a later time.  The saved drafts of your application can be found in your account under My Submissions (or Submissions).
• If, after submission, you need to change something in your application, contact the PILP team at PILP@eastwestcenter.org