Empowering Women Journalists and Researchers: The Al Jazeera Media Institute Fellowship

The Al Jazeera Media Institute (AJMI) Fellowship offers a powerful platform for female journalists and media researchers to grow, innovate, and influence global journalism. This is a unique opportunity to engage in high-level research, contribute to media discourse, and experience hands-on newsroom immersion with one of the world’s most prestigious media organizations.

Why This Fellowship Matters

AJMI launched its Fellowship program to drive meaningful change in journalism, particularly across the Global South. By combining academic rigor with real-world experience, the Fellowship helps women in media:

• Advance high-quality journalism in underrepresented regions

• Adapt to and lead in new media technologies

• Foster innovation and critical research in media practices

• Contribute to richer, more diverse journalistic content

• Integrate into Al Jazeera’s professional culture, gaining first-hand newsroom exposure

Program Details

• Duration: 3 months, split into two phases Al Jazeera Media Institute+1

  1. Remote Phase: Fellows prepare and submit a detailed research plan and introduction. Al Jazeera Media Institute

  2. On-site Phase: Selected fellows continue their research at Al Jazeera Media Network Headquarters in Doha, working closely with editors, journalists, and other experts. Al Jazeera Media Institute

  3. Research Output: Each fellow is expected to produce a 7,000-word research paper on a topic of their choice, under mentorship from Al Jazeera staff. Al Jazeera Media Institute

Eligibility

• You must have a Bachelor’s degree

• Working journalist or researcher (full-time or freelance) with at least four years’ experience Al Jazeera Media Institute

• Strong research and writing skills

• Fluent in English (especially for the English-language Fellowship) Al Jazeera Media Institute

• For non-Arabic speakers: apply to the English Fellowship; for Arabic speakers: there is a dedicated Arabic Fellowship track. Al Jazeera Media Institute

Application Requirements

• Curriculum vitae (CV)

• Research proposal (1000–1500 words) with objectives, methodology, abstract, etc.

• Three samples of previous work in English

• Two letters of recommendation

Commitments from Fellows

• Submit monthly progress reports Al Jazeera Media Institute

• Actively participate in the Al Jazeera community and newsroom environment Al Jazeera Media Institute

• Produce their research in line with AJMI’s academic guidelines Al Jazeera Media Institute

Suggested Research Themes

AJMI encourages proposals in areas that are especially relevant to media today, including but not limited to:

1. Journalism & the Global South

   • Rethinking journalistic practices in post-colonial or underrepresented contexts

   • The impact of globalization or Western funding on local media

   • Narrative flows and media representation

2. Digital Journalism

   • Emerging storytelling formats (mobile, data, investigative)

   • Fact-checking, AI in newsrooms, and smart newsrooms

3. New Schools of Journalism

   • Slow journalism, photo-documentary, anthropological methods, etc

4. Media Ethics

   • Ethical challenges in digital and social media

   • Managing hate speech, misinformation, and journalistic responsibility

5. Institutional Challenges

   • Sustainability of independent media

   • Digital transformation in traditional newsrooms

   • Journalism education in under-resourced regions

Selection Process and Impact

A committee from AJMI—including editors from across Al Jazeera’s divisions—reviews candidates based on the strength and relevance of their proposals. Since its inception in 2018, the Fellowship has benefited 48 journalists from 27 countries, underscoring its global reach and impact. Al Jazeera Media Institute These alumnae have produced research on AI in journalism, digital ethics, media institutions, and more. Al Jazeera Media Institute+1 For example, one study conducted through the Fellowship examined the gap between journalism and social sciences in Morocco, providing actionable insights for strengthening media training and analytical standards.

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