Reporting Fellowship for Namibian Journalists 2027

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BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship 2027 for Namibian Journalists in the USA

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Meta Description: Explore the BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship 2027 for Namibian journalists. Discover eligibility, travel funding, benefits and application details.

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Suggested Tags: Journalism Fellowships 2027, Environmental Journalism, Namibia Fellowships, Marine Conservation, Earth Journalism Network, International Fellowships, USA Fellowships

1. Introduction

The BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship 2027 offers professional journalists an opportunity to cover an important international conference on marine conservation in New York City, USA.

Organised by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN), the fellowship will support 10 journalists from the Global North and Global South to attend the first Conference of the Parties (COP1) to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.

Namibia is among the countries specifically encouraged to apply. The opportunity is particularly relevant to journalists with experience reporting on marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, ocean governance and environmental issues.

Selected journalists will receive financial and logistical support to attend the conference and report on international efforts to protect marine biodiversity.

Important: The application deadline was 27 October 2026. Applications for this fellowship are now closed. The information below is provided for reference.

2. Fellowship Overview

Fellowship Detail Information
Fellowship Name BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship
Organising Organisation Earth Journalism Network (EJN), Internews
Host Country United States
Host City New York City
Conference First Conference of the Parties to the BBNJ Agreement
Fellowship Year 2027
Eligible Applicants Professional journalists from coastal countries
Priority Countries Namibia, Ecuador, Peru, Seychelles, Japan, Spain, Canada and South Korea
Number of Fellows 10 journalists
Funding Type Fully funded reporting fellowship
Conference Dates 11–22 January 2027
Travel Dates 9–23 January 2027
Application Deadline 27 October 2026
Application Method Online

The fellowship is part of a three-year programme designed to improve international media coverage of the BBNJ Agreement.

For the 2027 conference, EJN plans to select 10 journalists, with equal representation from the Global North and Global South.

3. About the BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship

The BBNJ Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, is an international agreement focused on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

These areas include parts of the ocean that do not fall under the control of individual countries. Protecting their ecosystems requires cooperation between governments, scientists, conservation organisations and other international stakeholders.

The first Conference of the Parties will bring together representatives to discuss the implementation of the agreement and international approaches to protecting marine biodiversity.

For Namibian journalists, these discussions are particularly relevant to issues such as sustainable fishing, marine pollution, ocean conservation and the blue economy.

The fellowship will allow selected reporters to attend the conference, engage with international discussions and produce stories that help audiences understand the implications of global ocean policies.

4. What Does the Fellowship Cover?

The BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship provides financial and logistical support for selected journalists travelling to New York City.

The Earth Journalism Network will cover the following expenses:

  • Airfare: Non-refundable economy-class return airfare to New York City.
  • Accommodation: Accommodation throughout the fellowship period.
  • Meals: Meals related to fellowship participation.
  • Travel insurance: Travel medical insurance.
  • Local transportation: Ground transportation expenses related to fellowship activities.
  • Visa expenses: Reimbursement of eligible visa application costs. However, fellows must arrange their own visas.
  • Daily allowance: A per diem to help cover daily expenses in New York City.

In addition to financial support, EJN will facilitate the press accreditation process and provide logistical assistance for the trip.

Selected fellows will also participate in a pre-conference virtual workshop and an orientation session to prepare them for reporting.

5. Eligibility Requirements

The BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship targets professional journalists working in coastal countries who have experience covering ocean-related issues.

To qualify, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Professional journalism experience: Applicants must be professional journalists from or representing an established media organisation and reporting from a coastal country.
  • Ocean reporting experience: Candidates must have previous experience covering ocean-related issues, including marine pollution, illegal fishing, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries or the blue economy.
  • Reporting proposal: Applicants must explain the stories they intend to pursue during the conference.
  • Availability: Candidates must be available to travel to New York City from 9 to 23 January 2027.
  • English proficiency: Applicants must have a good command of English.
  • Professional CV: Candidates must submit an updated résumé or curriculum vitae.
  • Letter of support: Applicants must provide a letter from an editor, producer or supervisor confirming that their fellowship stories will be published or broadcast by an established media outlet.
  • Published work samples: Candidates must provide recent journalistic work focusing on ocean issues. The samples must have clear bylines and must have been published within the preceding 12 months.

Freelance journalists are also welcome to apply. However, they must provide a letter of support from the media organisation for which they intend to report.

Journalistic work samples can be submitted as documents or web links. Applicants whose work is published in languages other than English must include a short English summary.

Countries Encouraged to Apply

Although the fellowship is open to eligible journalists from coastal countries, EJN specifically encourages applications from the following countries:

  • Namibia
  • Ecuador
  • Peru
  • Seychelles
  • Japan
  • Spain
  • Canada
  • South Korea

Namibia’s inclusion makes this opportunity particularly relevant to local journalists interested in reporting on marine conservation and international environmental policy.

6. Fellowship Dates and Application Deadline

The fellowship will take place alongside the first BBNJ Conference of the Parties in New York City.

The important dates are:

Activity Date
Application deadline 27 October 2026
Arrival in New York City 9 January 2027
Fellowship orientation 10 January 2027
BBNJ COP1 begins 11 January 2027
BBNJ COP1 ends 22 January 2027
Departure from New York City 23 January 2027

The application deadline has passed. Interested journalists should monitor the Earth Journalism Network website for announcements about future reporting fellowships.

7. How to Apply

Applications for the 2027 fellowship have closed. However, journalists interested in similar future opportunities can use the following steps to prepare.

Step 1: Review the eligibility requirements.

Confirm that you have professional journalism experience and a track record of reporting on ocean-related issues.

Step 2: Prepare your CV.

Update your résumé to highlight your journalism experience, environmental reporting and previous work on marine conservation.

Step 3: Gather your published work samples.

Select recent articles, reports or multimedia stories that demonstrate your experience covering ocean-related topics.

Ensure that your samples have clear bylines and meet the publication-date requirements.

Step 4: Obtain a letter of support.

Contact your editor, producer or supervisor and request a signed letter confirming that your fellowship reporting will be published or broadcast.

Freelance journalists should obtain this confirmation from the media organisation for which they intend to report.

Step 5: Develop your reporting ideas.

Identify the stories you would like to investigate during the conference. Explain why they matter and how they could help audiences in your country understand international ocean conservation efforts.

Step 6: Submit the online application.

Visit the official Earth Journalism Network website and follow the application instructions for any future fellowship opportunities.

Official announcement: Reporting Fellowships for Journalists to Cover BBNJ COP1 in New York City, USA.

8. Why Should Namibian Journalists Consider This Fellowship?

Namibia has an important connection to marine conservation, fisheries and the sustainable management of ocean resources.

International decisions on marine biodiversity can influence conservation policies, fishing activities and the protection of marine ecosystems. However, these discussions are not always easy for local audiences to follow.

Environmental journalists help bridge this information gap by explaining scientific research, international agreements and government decisions in ways that ordinary readers and viewers can understand.

Through the BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship, selected journalists will have an opportunity to cover international negotiations directly and share their findings with audiences back home.

The fellowship also offers exposure to international journalists, environmental experts and policymakers working on ocean conservation.

For Namibian reporters interested in environmental journalism and international affairs, this is an opportunity worth monitoring when similar programmes open in the future.

9. Official Sources and Last Verified Date

For additional information about the fellowship and future reporting opportunities, consult the following resources:

  1. Earth Journalism Network – Official Fellowship AnnouncementProvides the original fellowship announcement, eligibility requirements and application information.
  2. Earth Journalism Network – Official WebsiteLearn more about the organisation’s environmental journalism programmes, grants and reporting opportunities.
  3. BBNJ Agreement – United NationsFind information about the international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.

Last verified: 8 November 2026.

Application status: Closed. The application deadline was 27 October 2026.