BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship 2027: Deadline Extended to October 29
The Earth Journalism Network extends the BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship deadline to 29 October. Ten journalists will cover the High Seas Treaty COP in New York.
Applications for the BBNJ COP1 Reporting Fellowship are now open until 29 October 2026, after the deadline was extended. The fellowship is run by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN). It will support 10 journalists to cover the first-ever Conference of the Parties (COP1) under the High Seas Treaty, whose decisions may shape how two-thirds of the ocean is governed. The meeting takes place in New York City on 11–22 January 2027.
What the fellowship offers
EJN plans to award fellowships to 10 journalists, with equal representation from the Global North and Global South. Applications are open to journalists in any medium: online, print, television or radio. The fellowship provides airfare, accommodation and mentorship. Fellows also receive a per diem to cover daily expenses in New York.
EJN also arranges press accreditation and provides a pre-conference virtual workshop, an orientation day on 10 January, and daily briefings with media trainers. Fellows will attend the full COP1, arriving on 9 January and departing on 23 January 2027.
What fellows must produce
Fellows are expected to produce at least two in-depth stories or analyses for their media outlet, published during the fellowship or within two weeks after it. Daily or short news pieces and social media posts are welcome but not required.
Who can apply
The opportunity is open to professional journalists in any medium who report from coastal countries and have experience covering ocean issues. Applicants must be professional journalists from, or representing, an established media house. Freelancers can apply with a letter of support from a media outlet.
EJN especially encourages applicants from Namibia, Ecuador, Peru, Seychelles, Japan, Spain, Canada and South Korea. Applications are accepted in English.
Background: why COP1 matters
The High Seas Treaty, formally the BBNJ Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a legally binding instrument covering the high seas and the international seabed, which make up about two-thirds of the ocean. EJN has described the fellowship as the start of a new three-year programme to ensure rich and diverse coverage of the BBNJ COPs worldwide. COP1 is the first meeting of the treaty’s parties, so its early decisions on how the agreement works are likely to set the pattern for later ones.
How to apply
Apply by 29 October through the official application link: https://loom.ly/qv0msW8. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. The deadline is 11:59 PM Pacific/Niue time. Applicants should check what time that is where they live before submitting.
Conclusion
For reporters who cover the ocean, the fellowship is a funded way to be in the room when the High Seas Treaty’s parties first meet. With only a few days left after the extension, interested journalists should prepare their application and, if freelance, secure a letter of support now.
Source: Earth Journalism Network (Internews), “Reporting Fellowships for Journalists to Cover BBNJ COP1 in New York City, USA” (earthjournalism.net).
