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One World Media Fellowship is aimed at aspiring journalists and filmmakers, who seek to make a career out of reporting the global south, raising awareness about the developing world and breaking down prejudices.

Working in film, print, audio or multimedia, our Fellows’ projects bring together integrity and creativity to present underreported stories that break down stereotypes and build cross-cultural connections.

We guide filmmakers and journalists on a single project, and provide a supportive network of mentors and peers through the production and completion of their project.

We seek to champion diverse emerging talent, and particularly encourage submissions from BAME applicants as well as from people from and based in developing countries.

 

We highly recommend that you attend a One World Media workshop on international reporting before applying for the OWM Fellowship. Not near a workshop? Don’t let this discourage you from applying.

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KEY DATES

  • Open for entries: Monday 18 February
  • Entry deadline: Wednesday 10 April
  • Fellows announced: Late May

USEFUL INFORMATION

What Do Fellows Receive?

  • £1,000 production grant
  • Executive Producer for your project
  • Career mentorship
  • Workshops and webinars by industry experts
  • Fair Reporting and Security Guidance
  • Introductions to commissioners
  • Network of like-minded Fellows and Alumni

Who Are We Looking For?

We are open to applications from all around the world.

One World Media Fellows are aspiring filmmakers and journalists ready to take the next leap in their career reporting from developing countries. Looking for their first director role or solo investigation, our Fellows experiment and learn in a supportive environment.

We select 12 Fellows each year, and we reserve at least 3 spots for international Fellows from and based in developing countries.

What Projects Are We Looking For?

  • Projects in pre-production to tell engaging stories from the developing world
  • 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 developing world, 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 developing world 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

Is there an application fee?

Application to the OWM Fellowship is free.

Which project locations are eligible?

Here is a list of developing countries.

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.

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.

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.

Can I apply from outside the UK?

The applications are open to anyone from around the world, as long as the proposed story is about or from a developing country. We have 3 spaces reserved for international filmmakers working locally.

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.

How long should my final project be?

We support small scale projects that can be delivered in a year. 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 or call us on +44 (0)207 922 7941

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