The Jefferson Fellowships, run by the East-West Center in Honolulu since 1967, is a three-week reporting and study tour for working journalists across the Indo-Pacific, including the United States. Fellows combine study-dialogue sessions at the Center with an educational reporting tour through several regional cities, examining a different theme each year. The 2026 edition — “New Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence” — runs 25 October to 12 November 2026 and travels to Honolulu, Tokyo and Seoul. The program has built a network of more than 750 alumni from 34 countries.
Benefits & funding
- 10–12 full or partial scholarships each year (roughly 2–4 for U.S. journalists and 8–10 for Indo-Pacific journalists), funded by the Freeman Foundation with additional support from the Mary Morgan Hewett Fund and private donors.
- A full scholarship covers: round-trip airfare from your home country and throughout the tour; lodging in each city; program meals plus a modest per diem; ground transportation and airport transfers; cultural and networking activities; interpretation; and a professionally organized program of meetings and site visits.
- Fellows pay a USD $900 program fee and are responsible for visa fees, health insurance and baggage fees. Media organizations are encouraged (not required) to cost-share.
Eligibility
- Full-time print, broadcast or online journalists working in the Indo-Pacific region, which for this program includes the United States and 40 other listed countries and territories.
- At least 5 years of professional journalism experience.
- Professional fluency in English, able to work in a multicultural setting.
- Preference (not a requirement) goes to applicants who show how the year’s theme connects to their coverage and audiences.
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
Sign in and add your profile to check this against your nationality, residency, and studies.
Residence required
Afghanistan · Australia · Bangladesh · Bhutan · Brunei · Cambodia · China · Timor-Leste · Micronesia · Fiji · Hong Kong · India
+ 29 more
Indonesia · Japan · Kiribati · Laos · Malaysia · Maldives · Marshall Islands · Mongolia · Myanmar · Nauru · Nepal · New Zealand · Niue · Pakistan · Palau · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · Samoa · Singapore · Solomon Islands · South Korea · Sri Lanka · Taiwan · Thailand · Tonga · Tuvalu · USA · Vanuatu · Vietnam
Not in your profile yet
Experience required
≥ 5 yrs
Not in your profile yet
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Complete the online Jefferson Fellowships application form for the cycle.
- 2Submit a letter of interest (max 3 pages) covering your organization or role, what you hope to explore and specific story ideas, the theme’s relevance to your audience, and a proposed paper/presentation topic.
- 3Attach a résumé or CV (max 2 pages), an employer’s statement of support (waived for freelancers), and two professional references with letters of recommendation.
- 4Selected Fellows prepare a 1,000–1,500-word paper and a 10–15 minute presentation for the exchange.
Program timeline
Program launched
1967
2026 applications opened
Feb 2, 2026
2026 application deadline
Mar 10, 2026
2026 program begins (Honolulu)
Oct 25, 2026
2026 program ends (Seoul)
Nov 12, 2026