The Media Fellowship Programme 2026 is a strategic initiative by ACCESS Development Services to build a cohort of engaged, informed, and field-ready journalists and media professionals who can bring sustained visibility to inclusive finance, women’s economic empowerment, rural livelihoods, and grassroots development across India.

Anchored around ACCESS flagship platforms including the Global Inclusive Finance Summit (GIFS), the fellowship goes beyond event-based coverage. It creates a structure for evidence based, continuous, and high-quality journalism on inclusive development.

Through expert briefings, curated field visits, data access, and editorial mentoring, fellows will be equipped to produce original stories that deepen public understanding, shape discourse, and influence policy.

1. Financial literacy and behaviour change
2. Women’s financial inclusion and entrepreneurship
3. MSMEs and access to credit
4. Digital finance and trust barriers
5. Last-mile delivery systems (BPI and Customer Protection)

• Print  journalists
• Freelance reporters
• Early to mid-career media professionals

• Quality of previous work
• Relevance of story pitch
• Platform reach & distribution

• India’s inclusive development landscape – Thematic Interview

• Briefing by experts

• Visits to selected ACCESS programme sites

• Editorial check-ins and mentoring by a senior journalist
• Expert and data access

• GIF India Summit invitation
• Networking with sector leaders

• Minimum 3 original published stories

• 30% on selection
• 40% after first two stories published
• 30% after final story submission

• Open: 18 June 2026
• Deadline: 20 July 2026

• Final Selection Announced: August 2026

• Tranche 1: On selection
• Tranche 2: After 2 published stories
• Tranche 3: Final submission

• Orientation: September 2026
• Story Development: September–November 2026

To Know More : https://accessdev.org/