Malaysiakini, in partnership with UNESCO and supported by the High Commission of Australia, Kuala Lumpur, launched the Young Creator Fellowship 2025 as part of its broader Youth Journalism Programme in May 2025.
We called upon young aspiring storytellers, creators, and journalism enthusiasts to apply for the Young Creator Online Training, a two-part online training to be held on June 15 and June 29, 2025. There was an overwhelming response, with more than 120 sign-ups.
“The overwhelming response, with more than 120 applications, proves that young Malaysians are hungry for change. They want to tell stories that matter, challenge disinformation, and create content that makes a real impact,” shared Tham Seen Hau, the fellowship programme director.
Based on the clarity and relevancy of their statements, we selected the top 30 participants eligible for this programme. Participants will receive expert-led sessions on media literacy, data privacy, multimedia storytelling, data journalism, and critical thinking. The 30 participants selected are:
Abqari Bin Annuar
Chew Yu Fei
Chong Pohyi
Daneyaa Ganesan
Duncan Cheng Kai Guan
Gareth Woo Yun Hao
Goh Cheng Hao
Irvina Joan Anak Jeffry Douglas
Jackson Yeoh
Katherine Sim Pei Shan
Leau Yang Yang
Liew Xin Tong
Mah Jun Hoong
Mohamed Nazri Bin Prem Nasir
Muhammad Hafiy Syazuan Bin Saad
Najwa Farhana Binti Yahya
Noor Ainun Jariah Binti Noor Harun
Nor Alya Khairina Binti Mustafa Anuar
Nur Hidayahtul Aisyah
Nurfatihah Irdina Binti Adlan
Nurilly Rania Binti Jusly
Poongkodi A/P Rabichandran
Siow Jia Yee
Telford Engan Tan
Thirumal S/O Jagat Hesveran
Thiviyaatharishienee A/P Kaliappan
Wan Taufik Hidayat Bin Wan Mokhter
Wong Zhe Huay
Yeoh Shi Yin
Zeti Zalikha
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.
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.
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.
We congratulate the participants who have been chosen and look forward to training young creators and journalists that will shape the future of Malaysia.