Mick Deane Scholarship announcement
8 November 2021
2022-23 Master of Journalism Admissions Webinar
22 December 2021

JNI-HKU Opportunity Fellowships launched to support journalists from Myanmar and Afghanistan

The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas and HKU Journalism have launched the JNI-HKU Opportunity Fellowships to give professional development opportunities to two journalists from Myanmar and Afghanistan.

JNI-HKU Opportunity Fellowship recipients will undertake a Master of Journalism at the University of Hong Kong in the 2022–23 academic year.

Fellowships will be awarded to outstanding individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to journalism and a willingness to share the knowledge they gain with others in the field.

Special consideration will be given to women journalists.

JNI’s Director of Education Andrea Ho said: “Journalism is crucial to help document events and understand communities under duress.”

“Supporting journalists to do their craft well is key to help civil societies endure when under threat or re-establish after disruption.

“JNI and HKU are providing an opportunity to develop the practice of working journalists from Myanmar and Afghanistan at a time when reporting from these countries is critical.”

HKU Journalism Director Keith Richburg said: “HKU Journalism is really excited to be partnering with the Judith Neilson Institute for this incredibly important initiative to assist our journalist colleagues from Myanmar and Afghanistan.”

“I’ve spent time in both countries and watched how independent media was able to grow and thrive over the years.”

“Now that independent media is being threatened — by the military coup in Myanmar and the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan — it’s heartening that we are in a position to help, in a small way, keep that flame of press freedom alive.”

JNI has worked closely with HKU Journalism on a number of projects, including the JNI Asia Reporting Fellowships.

How to apply

Interested candidates should fill out the complete online application form without proceeding to the payment of HK$300 application fee. We will be able to retrieve your application form if you have opened the application account and answered the application questions. Please do send your supporting documents including CV, IELTS or TOEFL English test (if you have taken one before) and writing samples to jmscmj@hku.hk after you’ve completed the application form.

The deadline for applications is January 21, 2022