Attend the Our Ocean Conference in Kenya With an All-Expenses-Paid Journalism Fellowship: EJN Our Ocean Conference 2026 Fellowship Guide (Deadline April 7, 2026)

If you cover oceans for a living—fisheries, marine protected areas, plastic pollution, coastal erosion, shipping, offshore energy, coral reefs, the whole salty buffet—you already know the problem: the biggest decisions often happen in rooms you can’t afford to enter. Conferences where ministers trade promises, donors announce funding, and industry players polish their reputations aren’t cheap places to report from. Flights, hotels, accreditation, ground transport… it adds up fast, and most newsrooms would rather spend that money on, say, keeping the lights on.

That’s why the Earth Journalism Network (EJN) fellowship tied to the Our Ocean Conference 2026 is such a serious opportunity. It’s an in-person reporting fellowship that puts selected journalists in Mombasa, Kenya, during the conference—June 16–18, 2026—with travel days and training built in. In plain English: they want you there, reporting, and they’re willing to pay to make it happen.

And this particular year matters. The 11th Our Ocean Conference is the first one hosted in Africa, and the theme—Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future—is broad enough to invite big story angles, but specific enough to demand real accountability journalism. Kenya’s priorities will also be in the mix, including youth ocean leadership and the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—the kind of issue that sounds bureaucratic until you see what it does to local livelihoods, food security, and national revenue.

This is not a “nice networking trip.” It’s closer to being dropped into the engine room of marine policy, where announcements get made and wording gets negotiated. If you can translate that into clear, human reporting—stories that make coastal communities feel seen and decision-makers feel watched—this fellowship is built for you.

At a Glance: EJN Our Ocean Conference 2026 Fellowship

Why This Fellowship Is Worth Your Time (and Your Best Clips)

Ocean journalism is often treated like a “special interest beat,” right up until the fish disappear, the port shuts down, or a storm wipes out a coastline that used to feed a city. Then everyone wants ocean expertise—immediately, and preferably in 900 words.

This fellowship gives you something rare: access plus support. You’ll be in the same place as negotiators, government officials, major NGOs, and policy advocates, with structured briefings so you’re not guessing what matters. And because it’s in Mombasa, you’re not covering ocean policy in an abstract way. You’re reporting from a coastal city where the ocean isn’t a metaphor—it’s a paycheck, a pantry, a border, and sometimes a battleground.

Also, let’s be honest: conferences can be a blur of panels and buzzwords. EJN’s model is designed to help reporters cut through that fog and come back with stories that land. If you’ve ever left a big event with a notebook full of quotes but no clear narrative, the built-in training and editorial guidance could be the difference between “I attended” and “I published something that mattered.”

What This Opportunity Offers (Beyond a Plane Ticket)

The obvious headline benefit is that EJN pays for you to get there and do the work. They cover non-refundable economy airfare, hotel accommodation, meals, ground transportation connected to the fellowship, and travel medical insurance. That’s the expensive skeleton of an international assignment—handled.

Then there’s the part applicants often underestimate: logistics and access. The fellowship includes help with the press accreditation process, plus on-the-ground support so you’re not spending your reporting time arguing with a registration desk or searching for reliable transport between venues.

Visa responsibility sits with you (because embassies are embassies), but EJN will reimburse visa costs, which is both practical and unusually humane.

You’ll also receive a per diem for day-to-day expenses in Mombasa. Per diems sound small until you’re trying to file a story while buying SIM cards, water, and the occasional meal that isn’t part of the conference catering situation.

Now the real value-add: EJN isn’t tossing you into the deep end and waving from the shore. Before the conference, fellows get informational resources and technical support, plus a virtual pre-conference workshop where you meet the cohort and trainers, talk through story opportunities, and troubleshoot your plan early—when you still have time to fix it.

In Mombasa, the fellowship programming includes an Orientation Day with ocean experts, guest speakers, and a field trip, followed by daily briefings, structured opportunities for interviews (including with high-level officials), and editorial feedback on your reporting. Think of it as reporting with a safety net: you still do the journalism, but you’re not doing it alone.

Who Should Apply (Eligibility Explained Like a Human Being)

EJN is looking for professional journalists who are either from a coastal country or reporting from one, and who have a real relationship with an established media outlet. In other words, they want applicants who can publish or broadcast the work, not just collect experiences.

The strongest candidates won’t be generalists casually curious about oceans. You should be able to point to recent ocean-related reporting—ideally within the last year—and show you can handle topics like IUU fishing, marine protected areas (MPAs), sustainable fisheries, or the blue economy (which is basically the ocean’s economic activity: fishing, tourism, shipping, energy, coastal development—plus the fights over who benefits).

A few examples of who fits well:

A reporter in Senegal who has covered overfishing and can connect IUU fishing to market prices, food security, and enforcement gaps.

A coastal Kenya journalist who has reported on port expansion, coral reef impacts, and community disputes, and wants to use the conference to pressure-test official commitments.

A Mozambican freelancer who has published solid investigations on coastal development or cyclone impacts and has a commissioning letter from a newsroom ready to run a conference package.

A radio producer in Ghana who can translate policy announcements into practical implications for artisanal fishers—and has a supervisor letter confirming broadcast plans.

You’ll need English proficiency, because the fellowship training, briefings, and coordination will run in English. Your published work samples can be in any language, but you must add a short English synopsis so reviewers understand what you did and why it matters.

Finally, availability is non-negotiable: you must be able to travel June 14–19, 2026, attend the full conference June 16–18, and participate in the June 15 orientation.

What Makes an Application Stand Out (How EJN Likely Thinks)

EJN’s stated criteria are refreshingly straightforward: they want proof you’ve covered ocean/environment topics, proof you’re committed to journalism long-term, and proof you can publish through an established outlet (that letter of support matters).

But selection panels also tend to reward a few unspoken signals:

They’ll notice whether your story plan is specific or mushy. “I will cover ocean sustainability” is not a plan; it’s a scented candle. A real plan sounds like: “I will track commitments on IUU fishing enforcement in the Western Indian Ocean, interview Kenyan officials and regional fisheries bodies, and publish a two-part series comparing pledges with enforcement budgets and previous compliance records.”

They’ll also notice whether you understand what a conference is. It’s not just speeches; it’s announcements, negotiations, side meetings, and strategic positioning. Applicants who propose stories that can actually be reported inside that environment—short-turnaround daily pieces plus one deeper follow-up—often feel more credible.

Finally, they’ll notice whether you can write clearly. Not poetically. Clearly. Ocean policy is complicated, but your job is to make it readable without dumbing it down. If your clips do that, you’re in good shape.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application (The Stuff People Learn Too Late)

1. Pitch two story types: one fast, one deep.
   Conferences produce daily news—announcements, commitments, diplomatic moments. Propose at least one quick-turn story you can file during June 16–18. Then propose a second, more ambitious piece you’ll report partly at the conference and finish afterward, when you’ve had time to verify claims. This shows you can meet deadlines and still do accountability work.

2. Name the ocean problem, name the human stakes, name the decision-maker.
   A strong pitch has three legs. Example: “IUU fishing in the Western Indian Ocean (problem) is squeezing artisanal fishers and raising local prices (human stakes), while enforcement agencies face funding and coordination gaps (decision-maker angle).” If your pitch only has one leg—“the ocean is under threat”—it falls over.

3. Make your clips do the talking—choose samples with consequences.
   Don’t submit your most beautifully written travel piece about the beach. Submit reporting that shows you can handle evidence, attribution, and complexity. If you have an investigation with documents, a data-driven story, or a strong explanatory piece that clearly connects policy to people, those are gold.

4. Treat the editor letter like a mini contract, not a formality.
   A vague letter (“We support this application”) is better than nothing, but a strong letter says what you’ll produce and where it will run. Ask your editor to include: expected formats (print, radio, video), planned publication dates, and confirmation you’ll have space to publish multiple outputs. Freelancers: get a commissioning email or letter from an outlet with specific intent, not “maybe.”

5. Write a reporting plan that fits the actual schedule.
   You arrive June 14, orientation June 15, conference June 16–18, depart June 19. That means interviews and filing need to happen in tight windows. Explain how you’ll use the orientation day (identify sources, lock interviews, refine angles) and how you’ll file during the conference (daily briefs, one feature, one interview, etc.).

6. Show you understand Kenya and the region—without pretending you’re the spokesperson.
   If you’re reporting from a different coastal country, don’t write as if Kenya is a prop. Instead, propose regional angles: shared fisheries, cross-border enforcement, regional trade, ocean finance flows, or how commitments might affect neighboring coastal communities.

7. Be honest about language and logistics—and show you’ve thought ahead.
   If you’ll need a visa, mention you’re prepared to apply immediately upon selection. If your outlet publishes in French/Portuguese/Swahili, say so—and explain how you’ll ensure English coordination during the fellowship while still serving your audience back home.

Application Timeline: A Realistic Plan Backward From April 7, 2026

April 7 comes fast when you’re juggling assignments, so give yourself a runway. Ideally, start 6–8 weeks before the deadline. In mid-February, review your recent ocean clips and identify the three that best prove you can report with accuracy and authority. If any are in a local language, write crisp English synopses now—doing it the night before submission is how good applications get messy.

By early March, draft your story plan. Then pressure-test it like an editor would: Is it too broad? Does it depend on impossible access? Can you report it within three conference days? Revise until it’s specific enough to be believable.

Around the same time, secure your editor letter. This can take longer than you think because editors are busy and letters bounce around inboxes. Give them a template with key details (what you’ll produce, where it will be published/broadcast, and that the outlet supports your travel for reporting).

In the final two weeks before April 7, polish your CV, double-check that your work samples have clear bylines and publication dates, and make sure every link works. Submit a few days early if possible. Last-minute submissions are where broken URLs go to thrive.

After submission, expect decisions in late April 2026. If selected, you’ll likely have a short window to confirm participation, begin visa steps, and join the pre-conference virtual workshop.

Required Materials (and How to Prepare Them Without Panic)

You’ll need an up-to-date resume/CV that clearly shows you’re a working journalist. Keep it clean and reporting-focused: beats, outlets, major stories, awards (if relevant), languages, and any multimedia skills.

You’ll also need a letter of support from an editor, producer, or supervisor confirming that the stories you produce will be published or broadcast by an established outlet. If you freelance, you still need that letter—just from the outlet you plan to report for. This is one of the biggest gatekeepers in the process, so treat it as essential.

Work samples matter a lot. EJN asks for recent journalistic work focused on ocean issues, published within the last 12 months, with clear bylines. Submit pieces that show range: one explanatory, one enterprise story, maybe one investigative or data-informed piece. If you upload documents, make sure the byline and publication info are visible. If you submit links, ensure they aren’t behind paywalls—unless you also provide a PDF.

Finally, you must clearly state what stories you plan to pursue at the conference. That’s your chance to show ambition with a spine: bold, but reportable.

A practical prep note: create a single folder with your CV, letter, synopses, and PDFs, and name files clearly (e.g., “Surname_CV.pdf”, “Surname_EditorLetter.pdf”). Reviewers are human; help them help you.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and How to Fix Them)

One common misstep is sending a story plan that’s basically a theme. “Ocean conservation” isn’t a story. Fix it by anchoring your plan to a policy question, a commitment, or a conflict of interests—and identify who you’ll interview.

Another mistake is submitting old or irrelevant samples. If your best ocean story is 18 months old, that’s a problem because the call asks for the last 12 months. Fix it by pitching and publishing a fresh ocean piece now—seriously. One strong recent story can upgrade your entire application.

Applicants also often underestimate the editor letter. A half-hearted note reads like your outlet won’t actually run the work. Fix it by asking for specifics: intended outlets/platforms, approximate publication dates, and the expectation of multiple outputs.

There’s also the “conference tourism” vibe: an application that sounds more excited about travel than reporting. Fix it by writing like a working journalist with a job to do—because that’s the deal.

Finally, don’t ignore the logistics. If you can’t travel the required dates, don’t apply hoping it’ll bend. It won’t. If dates are tight, clear them early with your editor and family commitments so you’re not scrambling after selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can freelancers apply, or is this only for staff reporters?

Freelancers can apply, but you must show a real publication pathway. That means a letter of support from an established media outlet confirming they intend to publish or broadcast your fellowship reporting.

Do I need to be based in Africa to apply?

The opportunity emphasizes applicants reporting from a coastal country. The conference is in Africa, and the listing is tagged Africa, but the key eligibility language focuses on your status as a professional journalist reporting from a coastal nation and connected to an established outlet.

What counts as ocean reporting experience?

EJN gives examples like IUU fishing, MPAs, blue economy, and sustainable fisheries. Broadly, they’re looking for journalism where the ocean is central—not a scenic background. Coastal development, marine pollution, coral reef decline, shipping impacts, offshore extraction, or climate-driven sea level change can all qualify if your reporting is clearly ocean-focused.

My stories are not in English. Am I still eligible?

Yes. Your work samples can be in any language, but you must include a short English synopsis so reviewers can assess the reporting and significance.

What costs do I have to pay myself?

The fellowship covers major travel and participation expenses, and it reimburses visa costs, but you’re responsible for obtaining the visa (the process and paperwork). You’ll also likely spend money beyond covered meals and the per diem if you choose to, but the fellowship is designed to handle the core costs.

What happens before the conference?

Selected fellows typically participate in a pre-conference virtual workshop, receive prep resources, and then attend an Orientation Day on June 15 in Mombasa with expert briefings and a field trip to ground your reporting.

When will I know if I got in?

According to the opportunity details, decisions are expected in late April 2026, after applications close in early April.

How many stories am I expected to produce?

The listing doesn’t specify an exact number in the raw text, but the editor letter requirement implies you should produce publishable work during/after the conference. A smart plan is to commit to multiple outputs (for example: one daily story plus one deeper feature), as long as your outlet agrees.

How to Apply (Next Steps You Can Take This Week)

Start by choosing your angle. Not your “interest”—your angle. Decide what you’ll hold people accountable for in Mombasa: fisheries enforcement, protected areas that exist on paper but not in practice, ocean finance promises, youth leadership that gets applauded and ignored, or the money trail behind big pledges.

Then assemble your essentials: a clean CV, 2–3 recent ocean-focused work samples (with English synopses if needed), and a strong editor letter that reads like a publication plan rather than a polite favor. Draft your proposed stories with enough specificity that a stranger can imagine the headline and the reporting path.

Finally, submit before the deadline—April 7, 2026—and keep late April open for decision updates and potential onboarding steps (including visa timing).

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page

Official details and application link: https://earthjournalism.net/opportunities/our-ocean-conference-2026-fellowships