Deadline: February 1, 2026
The Mongabay Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship 2026–2028 is a fully remote, paid fellowship designed to support aspiring and early-career environmental journalists from tropical countries. The fellowship aims to strengthen conservation journalism by providing hands-on editorial mentorship, financial support, and international publishing opportunities with Mongabay.
The Mongabay Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship 2026–2028 offers fellows the opportunity to build a strong reporting portfolio while covering critical environmental and conservation issues affecting tropical regions.
About the Fellowship
The Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship is an initiative of Mongabay, an independent environmental news organisation that reports on biodiversity, conservation, climate change, and Indigenous and local community issues.
The fellowship supports journalists who are committed to reporting on environmental topics and who want to develop their skills through close collaboration with experienced editors.
Fellows work remotely and publish original stories with Mongabay during the fellowship period.
Fellowship Duration
- The fellowship runs on a six-month cycle
- For the 2026 English-language cohort, the fellowship period is 1 June 2026 to 30 November 2026
- Multiple cohorts will run between 2026 and 2028, depending on language bureau
Number of Fellowships Available
At least 34 fellows are selected annually across Mongabay’s language bureaus:
- English (Global Bureau): 16 fellows
- Includes a special focus on ocean reporting in Southeast Asia
- Spanish (Mongabay Latam): 6 fellows
- Bahasa Indonesia (Mongabay Indonesia): 6 fellows
- Portuguese (Global Bureau): 6 fellows
Financial Support
- Stipend: USD 500 per month
- Total funding: Up to USD 3,000 for the six-month fellowship
- Payments are intended to support reporting time and related costs
Fellowship Responsibilities
Selected fellows are expected to:
- Commit approximately 10 hours per week
- Work closely with Mongabay editors
- Produce six original, publishable stories during the fellowship
- Report on conservation, biodiversity, environmental governance, climate, or related issues relevant to their region
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be from a low- to upper-middle-income tropical country
- Applicants from high-income tropical countries (such as Singapore and Australia) are not eligible
- Be an aspiring or early-career journalist with an interest in environmental or conservation reporting
- Be able to work remotely
- Demonstrate strong writing and communication skills
- Be available to complete all fellowship requirements within the six-month period
- There is no formal education requirement
- The fellowship is not affiliated with any university or academic programme
Language Requirements
Applicants must apply in the language of the bureau they are applying to:
- English – Global Bureau
- Spanish – Mongabay Latam
- Bahasa Indonesia – Mongabay Indonesia
- Portuguese – Global Bureau
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit the following:
- A 1–2 page CV or résumé
- A one-page cover letter explaining:
- Career goals and interest in environmental journalism
- Motivation for applying to the fellowship
- A writing sample
- Can be published or unpublished
- Preferably focused on environmental or conservation topics
Selection Criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
- Demonstrated interest in conservation and environmental journalism
- Quality of writing and reporting ability
- Communication skills
- Capacity to complete proposed reporting and fellowship commitments
Application Deadline
- 1 February 2026
Early submission is encouraged due to the competitive nature of the fellowship.
Why Apply for the Mongabay Y. Eva Tan Conservation Reporting Fellowship 2026–2028?
- Gain international bylines with a respected environmental media organisation
- Receive professional editorial mentorship
- Build a strong conservation journalism portfolio
- Develop in-depth reporting skills on critical environmental issues
- Receive financial support while reporting
Need Support With Your Application?
We offer professional support for proposal drafting, refining, and review to help strengthen your fellowship application and improve your chances of success.
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