Full Program Details
Two-thirds of the ocean belongs to no country. For years there were almost no binding rules for protecting life on the high seas. That changed on 17 January 2026, when the High Seas Treaty, formally the BBNJ agreement, came into force. In January 2027 governments meet in New York for the first Conference of the Parties, and Internews' Earth Journalism Network (EJN) wants reporters from around the world in the room.
EJN says the treaty has received only modest media attention so far, and is offering fellowships to 10 journalists to attend COP1 and report on how the treaty will work in practice. Applications close on 27 October 2026.
EJN will pay for economy flights, accommodation, meals, medical insurance and ground transport, plus a daily per diem, and will reimburse visa costs for 10 fellows at BBNJ COP1.
Details at a glance:
- Event: BBNJ COP1, New York City, 11 to 22 January 2027
- Fellows: 10 journalists, with equal representation from the Global North and Global South
- Travel dates: arrive 9 January 2027, orientation 10 January, depart 23 January
- Covered: economy airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance, ground transport, per diem and visa costs
- Deadline: 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM (Pacific/Niue time)
- Decisions: communicated in November 2026
- Condition: the programme depends on final funding approval from the Bloomberg Ocean Fund
What It Covers
EJN covers non-refundable economy airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance and ground transport. Fellows also get a per diem for daily expenses. Getting a US visa is your own responsibility, but EJN reimburses the visa cost and helps with press accreditation.
Before the conference, fellows join a virtual workshop. In New York they get an orientation with ocean experts, daily briefings from EJN media trainers and access to side events. Each fellow is expected to produce at least two in-depth stories or analyses, published during the fellowship or within two weeks after it.
Who Can Apply
EJN lists these requirements:
- A professional journalist from, or representing, an established media house, reporting from a coastal country
- Previous experience reporting on ocean issues, such as illegal fishing, marine protected areas, the blue economy, fisheries or marine pollution
- A clear idea of the stories you would pursue at the conference
- Availability from 9 to 23 January 2027
- Good English (the application is in English only)
- An up-to-date CV, a letter of support from an editor or producer, and work samples published in the last 12 months with clear bylines
Freelancers can apply, but they need a letter of support from a media outlet they will report for. EJN encourages applications from Namibia, Ecuador, Peru, Seychelles, Japan, Spain, Canada and South Korea, and says journalists from other countries will also be selected.
How to Apply
- Open the official EJN opportunity page.
- Create an EJN account (or log in and reset your password if you had one before the site update).
- Click Apply now and complete the form. You can save a draft and return later.
- Upload your CV, editor letter and work samples.
- Submit before 27 October 2026, 11:59 PM Niue time. Late applications are not considered.
Questions go to info.ejn@internews.org, the address EJN gives on the page.
Timeline
- 27 October 2026: application deadline
- November 2026: decisions announced
- 9 to 23 January 2027: travel, orientation and COP1 in New York
READ ALSO: Harvard Environmental Fellows 2027
READ ALSO: MOPGA 2027 Visiting Fellowship
GizPulse Verdict
Who this is for: working journalists, including freelancers with an editor's backing, who already cover oceans, fisheries or climate and can publish at least two strong stories from New York.
Who should pause: reporters with no ocean or environment clips, anyone who cannot travel to the US in January 2027, and anyone without an outlet willing to write a support letter. Remember the fellowship still depends on final funding approval.
One tip to stand out: pitch specific stories, not themes. Name the sources, the angle for your audience and the outlet that will run it. EJN says it judges clear story plans and a committed media partner.
