By PTV News
The first leg of the 2026-2027 Southeast Asia Maritime Media Fellowship (SMMF) was recently concluded after being held from November 2 to 6, 2026, in Sydney and Canberra, Australia.
The program, now on its second iteration, was organized by the Blue Security Consortium, led by the La Trobe Centre for Global Security, with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It brought together 13 journalists from Southeast Asian nations, particularly the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Among the selected journalists from the Philippines were James Patrick de Jesus of People’s Television Network (PTV) News; Joanna Aglibot of the Philippine Daily Inquirer; Katrina Manubay of the Manila Standard; and Geralford Ticke of Palawan News.
The Filipino fellows were able to share their experiences in covering various aspects of maritime issues within their respective beats, particularly the West Philippine Sea.
These include the effects of the dispute on Filipino fisherfolk and local residents, maritime domain awareness (MDA) patrols and joint maritime cooperative activities conducted in the area amid increasing tensions in recent years, and the diplomatic approaches to managing various issues.
“We believe that how these issues are portrayed in the media is significant, for how the people understand the maritime and come to understand the issues that affect the lives of coastal communities but also have these big impacts in terms of national security,” said La Trobe Centre for Global Security Director Professor Rebecca Strating.
“Obviously, the Philippine participants have made an amazing contribution and we are delighted that you have visited Australia, and you have participated in this program,” Strating added.
She also noted that this year has been important for the Philippines, as it serves as chair of the 2026 ASEAN Summit, while the country also marks the 10th anniversary of its 2016 arbitral victory on the South China Sea.
The one-week program featured masterclasses with a panel of experts in the fields of maritime security, cybersecurity, submarine cable systems, and investigative journalism.
The Lowy Institute also shared insights from its various research initiatives as an independent think tank and provided a preview of its new edition of Asia Power Index, which will be released this month.
Part of the fellowship was the opportunity for participants to visit Fleet Base East of the Royal Australian Navy and the headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Sydney, as well as the Australian War Memorial and Parliament House in Canberra.
The second leg of the 2026-2027 Southeast Asia Maritime Media Fellowship will be held next year in Jakarta.
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