Overview

The Asia Journalism Fellowship (AJF) brings together experienced journalists from across Asia to learn, collaborate, and build lasting professional and personal connections. AJF is hosted by the Institute of Policy Studies at the National University of Singapore, in partnership with Temasek Foundation. Held in Singapore, AJF has welcomed Fellows each year since 2009, offering a rare opportunity to step back from daily newsroom pressures, exchange ideas with peers from different contexts, and return home with fresh perspectives and practical skills.

AJF began as a three-month, Singapore-based programme. During the Fellowship, Fellows discuss the craft and responsibilities of journalism, sharpen professional capabilities, and develop trusted relationships through close interaction.

The programme paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, AJF adapted and returned as a fully online edition. In 2022, as travel restrictions eased, AJF moved into a hybrid format, combining online sessions with an in-person Singapore segment. That year, we also invited the 2021 Fellows to Singapore so two cohorts could come together for seminars, visits, and dialogue, deepening cross-border understanding and strengthening relationships.

From 2023 onwards, AJF has continued as a hybrid programme, with four weeks online followed by four weeks in Singapore. This structure reflects the realities many journalists face today, where taking three months away from work is increasingly difficult. At the same time, Fellows’ feedback has shown that a thoughtful blend of online and in-person sessions can enhance meaningful exchange, practical learning, and community.

Whether online or in person, AJF gives journalists the space to compare experiences across countries, challenge assumptions respectfully, and learn from one another’s newsroom realities. It is also a chance to recharge, build friendships, and join a network of alumni who continue to stay connected across the region.

Browse highlights from past cohorts to get a sense of the AJF experience, the conversations, workshops, and learning journeys that Fellows go through, and the friendships they build along the way.

AJF is open to journalists across formats, including print, broadcast, digital, photo, and video. We invite you to join the next AJF cohort and be part of this community.

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