04-07-2025
Kuching youth among participants of Young Creator Fellowship 2025
Telford hopes to use the fellowship to amplify rural voices and push for more inclusive national narratives.
KUCHING (July 5): Telford Engan Tan, a 19-year-old youth advocate and law student from Kuching, has been selected as one of the Top 10 Malaysians to participate in the Malaysiakini Young Creator Fellowship 2025.
According to The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI), Tan earned his spot in the fully funded programme following a rigorous two-day media training workshop in Kuala Lumpur and a storytelling video pitch titled 'Young Change-Maker'.
'The highly competitive national programme, aimed at nurturing the next generation of journalist-influencers and content creators, received over 120 entries from across Malaysia,' said TSI in a statement.
Tan, who serves as an 'Aspiring Leader with TSI', said he hoped to use the fellowship to amplify rural voices and push for more inclusive national narratives.
'My pitch is focused on unity, cultural heritage, and indigenous identity, told through the lens of Sarawak.'
In this aspect, TSI said: 'More than just storytelling, youth participation in journalism empowers us to question, reflect, and shape the narratives that define our future. We need more young Sarawakians to be aware and involved.
The fellowship, to be running from July 16 to 18, will include visits to national media outlets such as Media Prima, RTM, Astro Awani and Bernama.
Participants will also receive one-on-one mentorship from award-winning journalists.
Tan is expected to present his video project at Monash University Malaysia before senior editors and policymakers, and will compete for a share of RM17,000 in awards.
The Young Creator Fellowship, which is endorsed by the Ministry of Communications, aims to elevate youth voices in building a more inclusive and responsible media landscape.
TSI is a civil society organisation for the people of Sarawak, committed to laying the foundation for a progressive and modern society. lead Malaysiakini Young Creator Fellowship Telford Engan Tan
