Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship

The 6th edition of the Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship (2027) is designed to empower journalists to produce impactful stories on gender and grassroots issues, with a special focus on FAO's biennial theme 'Fostering Innovation for Food Security.' Five journalists reporting in Tamil, Malayalam, Odia, Hindi, and Marathi languages will be selected. The fellowship offers a grant of ₹60,000, mentorship from MSSRF experts and field researchers, and direct engagement with rural communities.

About the Fellowship

• Fellowship Amount: ₹60,000 INR for the four-month fellowship period
• irect Grassroots Engagement: Fellows have first-hand access to rural communities, enabling authentic and impactful storytelling
• Mentorship & Guidance: Dedicated mentorship from MSSRF experts and field researchers, including bilingual support
• Policy-Level Exposure: MSSRF facilitates meetings with relevant government officials, giving fellows a chance to understand governance and policy perspectives

Fellows will receive support in translating their work into English for wider dissemination and will have opportunities to connect with policymakers, enhancing both visibility and influence of their stories. The fellowship concludes in August during MSSRF's annual conference where the fellows get the opputunity to present their reportage to an international audience.

Eligibility

• 1. Minimum of three years in journalism.
• 2. Open to full-time and freelance journalists from print, television, or online media.
• 3. We encourage candidates who are interested in reporting on gender, grassroots issues, and community-driven themes to apply

Fellowship Structure

• Duration: Five months (Febuary – 1st week of August)
• Orientation: Includes thematic inputs, gender-focused sessions, mentorship from senior journalists, and exposure to MSSRF’s regional centres.
• Fieldwork: Fellows will conduct field work and develop stories aligned with the fellowship theme.
• Deliverables: Three detailed stories in print/broadcast/online media

Important Date

• Applications Close: 21 November 2026
• Internal Evaluation: December 2026
• Results Annouced: January 2027

Other Details

The Mina Swaminathan Media Fellowship was constituted in 2020 to highlight gender intersections through powerful storytelling. Established in recognition of the late Mina Swaminathan's commitment to spotlighting gender as part of the institution’s core values, this fellowship also serves as a tribute to our pro-woman, pro-poor, and pro-nature approach.

The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) adopted her gendered approach to research and development several years ago. She was nationally recognised for her contributions toward developing a holistic perspective on gender equality and child development, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which addresses the multiple needs and roles of women in childcare.

Contact: media.fellowship@mssrf.res.in