Jefferson Fellowships 2026

The East-West Center is pleased to announce the 2026 Jefferson Fellowships.

Theme: New Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence: Navigating AI’s Impacts on Societies and Economic Security in the Asia-Pacific Region

Dates: October 25 - November 12, 2026

Destinations: Honolulu, Tokyo, and Seoul

This year’s Jefferson Fellowships will explore the opportunities and challenges posed AI in the region. 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 Indo-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 March 10, 2026.

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 the Program Coordinator, Steven Youngblood, at youngbls@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.
• Possess professional fluency in English.

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 2026 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.