In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly and digital media continues to shape public discourse, the call for ethical and credible content creation has never been more crucial.

Responding to this call, Malaysiakini, in partnership with Unesco and supported by the High Commission of Australia, Kuala Lumpur, has officially launched the Young Creator Fellowship 2025 as part of its broader Youth Journalism Programme.

Partnering in this programme are also Hawana and Monash University Malaysia.

The Youth Journalism Programme, targeted at young Malaysians aged 18 to 25, aims to strengthen media literacy, develop responsible storytelling, and nurture the next generation of journalist influencers and content creators.

Enhancing media and digital literacy

The programme begins with the Young Creator Online Training, a two-part online training to be held on June 15 and June 29, 2025. Participants will receive expert-led sessions on media literacy, data privacy, multimedia storytelling, data journalism, and critical thinking.

Prominent speakers include Aidila Razak, the former special reports editor at Malaysiakini; Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, digital editor at the Pulitzer Centre; Iqbal Fakthi, editor-in-chief of Cilisos and others.

The online training is designed to be interactive, with quizzes and assignments allowing participants to demonstrate their understanding and creativity.

The top 10 performers from the online training will be selected for the second phase of the programme - the Young Creator Fellowship.

Fellowship and final showcase

The all-paid-for Fellowship will be held from July 16 to 18, 2025, preceded by a mentorship phase from July 1 to 15, during which each fellow will produce a three-minute video based on a topic of public interest.

Throughout the Fellowship, participants will undergo hands-on training in visual journalism and embark on guided tours of prominent newsrooms, including Media Prima, RTM, Bernama, Astro, and Malaysiakini itself. It is designed to provide the fellows with practical experience and offer insights into real-world journalism.

The final day of the fellowship will be a public showcase and judging session held at Monash University on July 18 at 9am. The 10 fellows will present their video projects. A panel of judges will select the winners, and prizes totalling RM17,000 will be awarded.

Calling all young storytellers

We now call for applications from aspiring storytellers, creators, and journalism enthusiasts.

If you are an aspiring creator or journalist, aged 18 to 25, with big ideas, this program is for you! All you have to do is submit a short written piece introducing yourself, explaining what matters most to you, and why your voice deserves to be heard here.

The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2025.

For more information and to apply, visit: mk.my/goCEMVY