Since 2001, One World Media has supported 248 emerging journalists and filmmakers to report from 75 countries.OWM provides each Fellow with a £1,000 grant, one-to-one mentoring, invaluable workshops and webinars by industry experts, and introductions to commissioners.
We seek to champion diverse emerging talent, and particularly encourage submissions from underrepresented groups (people of colour, ethnic groups, women, LGBTQ+, or people with disabilities) as well as from people from and based in the global south.
General applications for the 2023 Fellowship are closed, however we’re looking for an FT Africa Journalism Fellow to join the cohort – a mid-career journalist from, based in and covering Sub-Saharan Africa, with an ambitious written story to tell a global audience. Find out more here.
KEY DATES
- Open for entries: February 2024
- Deadline: March 2024
- Fellows announced: June 2024
USEFUL INFORMATION
Please Note: Our new free online course provides an excellent foundation for applying to the One World Media Fellowship by helping you develop your story idea, prepare your proposal, and get acquainted with successful pieces of reporting in the field.
We strongly encourage anyone applying to the Fellowship to complete the course, and upload your certificate to your application.
What Do Fellows Receive?
- £1,000 reporting grant
- Executive Producer for their project
- One-to-one mentoring
- Workshops and webinars by industry experts
- Fair Reporting and Security Guidance
- Network of like-minded Fellows and Alumni
Who Are We Looking For?
We are open to applications from all around the world, working in film, print, digital, audio, photography or multimedia reporting.
One World Media Fellows are aspiring filmmakers and journalists ready to take the next leap in their career reporting from the global south. Looking for their first director role or solo investigation, our Fellows experiment and learn in a supportive environment.
In 2023, we will select 10 international Fellows.
What Projects Are We Looking For?
- Projects in pre-production that tell engaging stories from low- and middle-income countries across the global south
- Non-fiction media across all platforms: film, print, audio, photojournalism, and multimedia
- Proposals where majority of the budget is in place or achievable in a short time-frame
- Projects that can be delivered within a year – for films this is under 30 mins
- Stories that are strong enough to be published or broadcast in established media outlets. We are looking for genuine journalism or documentary and will fund media that could ultimately appear in existing newspapers, magazines, radio, TV channels, professional news websites and online platforms, etc.
Beyond this, we are particularly interested in proposals that:
- Seek to tell original stories in a way that will engage the intended audience
- Highlight the voices of people living in the global south, particularly voices that are not often heard
- Have established contacts and contributors who have confirmed their willingness to take part
- Have considered ethical issues and safety
- Do not simply cover negative aspects of the global south without considering the context in which they exist
- Demonstrate an understanding of accountability and fair practice in news gathering and reporting
- Show a willingness to work with local people in equal partnership in co-production on a story.*** We do not fund fiction or feature length projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
APPLICATION
Is there an application fee?
Application to the OWM Fellowship is free.
Can I apply with more than one project?
We suggest you apply with your strongest proposal. However if you wish to apply with multiple projects, you need to fill in a separate application for each proposal.
Who do I get a reference letter from?
Your reference should be written on headed paper and can be from a tutor/lecturer, a commissioner, an employer, or an established practitioner in your medium that is familiar with your work. It should clarify in what capacity your referee knows you; confirmation that they are familiar with your work, and a comment on your application, particularly your ability to deliver the piece of media proposed.
How much research do I need to show?
We expect you to have researched and verified your stories before applying. We will generally not consider your proposal if you have not established contacts and contributors on the ground and obtained their agreement to take part. We do not expect you to have a trailer or existing footage, however it always helps if you have any visuals to support your application.
How much experience do you expect the applicants to have?
We aim to support journalists and media makers at the early stages of their careers. We expect a basic level of industry experience, as we do not provide any technical training, and expect you to be able to deliver the piece of media you are proposing. We prioritise emerging and early career applicants, over established filmmakers and journalists who have directed or produced numerous pieces and already have access to a network of industry professionals in their field.
ELIGIBILITY
Which project locations are eligible?
Projects should focus on stories, topics or issues in, about or related to low- and middle-income countries across the global south. This includes countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East, Russia or the Post-Soviet States.
What type of media do you support?
We support non-fiction media across all platforms: film, print, audio, photojournalism, and multimedia.
Who is eligible to apply for the Fellowship?
The applications are open to anyone from around the world, as long as the proposed story is about or from the global south.
Do you support projects at post production stage?
Unfortunately, no. We support projects at pre-production or production stage, where the main reporting has not yet taken place.
SELECTION
How does the selection process work?
Call for applications for the Fellowship open once a year in February, with a deadline in April. Applications are shortlisted in house then put to a jury panel of industry professionals who select the winning applications. Our new Fellows are announced in May.
Do you select Fellows based on the project or the applicant?
We consider each application individually, both in terms of the proposed project, and the applicant’s profile, experience and career ambitions.
What type of stories are you looking for?
We are looking for stories that highlight the voices of people living in the global south, particularly those that are not often heard. We seek original stories, told in engaging ways. We encourage positive, empowering, and solutions oriented pieces, considering the context and working in partnership with local people.
I wasn't selected for the Fellowship. How can I receive feedback?
Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are not able to provide individual feedback on applications that are not selected. Here are some of the most common reasons for applications not being shortlisted: access not secured, budget not feasible, project too large scale, topic or characters not original, applicant too early or advanced in their career, research not thorough enough. It could also be that there was nothing wrong with your application and simply there were other stronger applications, so we encourage that you try again next round, with an updated proposal.
DELIVERY
How long should my final project be?
We support small scale projects that can be delivered in a year. This differs depending on the type of media you work in, however for documentary films, this is under 30 minutes.
How long do I have to deliver my work?
You have one calendar year to complete your proposed media and deliver either a short film, a print article, an audio or a multimedia piece.
Can I seek further external funding after I become a Fellow?
We expect you to have the majority of your budget in place at the time of your application, and ready to start production. There are no restrictions on receiving more funding during the process, as long as you keep us informed, and the changes in the scale of the project do not affect your delivery to One World Media. While we fully support your journey to receive commissions and reach further audiences, we still expect you to deliver a short piece of media within one year.
If you have any questions about your application, or would like to find out more about the One World Media Fellowship, please get in touch via email.