The 2025 Melvin M.S. Goo Writing Fellowship will award up to three US$10,000 grants to individual journalists, authors, or writers from the United States or China to complete projects that will foster understanding between the two countries. The projects:
- May be produced in either (or both) English or a Chinese language variety (applications must be submitted in English).
- Must be published or otherwise made publicly accessible in the United States and/or China; potential mediums include publication in print, print or online periodicals, etc.
- Must be original works; completed or published projects will not be considered.
- Must be completed and delivered (i.e. published or distributed) by December of 2025.
Travel is encouraged but not a required component of this fellowship; any travel must be funded by the grant and arranged by the selected Fellow.
Eligibility
Applicants must be nationals or permanent residents of either the United States or the People’s Republic of China (including the Hong Kong and Macao SARs) to be recipients of the writing fellowship grant.
Application
Applicants must submit each of the following documents to be considered:
- The online Goo Fellowship application form.
- Project Proposal (maximum 6 pages).
- Résumé or Curriculum Vitae.
- At least three (3) representative examples of prior work (e.g. writing samples, digital portfolio, etc.).
- Two (2) professional references with letters of recommendation.
Recommended addenda:
- Statement of Commitment from the project’s intended publisher or distributor. Though not required, proposals that include completed publisher commitments will be given more weight when considered by the selection committee.
For full details and to apply, please visit the Goo Fellowship application portal. Applications are due on October 28, 2024. Late, incomplete, or unsubmitted draft applications will not be considered.
Selection Criteria
Proposed projects will be evaluated by a Selection Committee organized by the East-West Center based on several criteria, including:
- How the proposed project will promote better understanding between the people of the United States and China.
- A principal focus on underreported feature topics (such as cultural issues, lifestyles, education, youth, the arts, etc.).
- Any presence of elements in conflict with the Fellowship’s mission, including divisive or inflammatory rhetoric.
- Whether the project’s intended audience is sufficiently broad and/or influential to contribute to the Fellowship’s mission.
- Confidence that the project’s sources are sufficiently diverse, reliable, and well-informed.
- Creativity and impact.
The East-West Center prohibits discrimination of any kind, including sex discrimination, in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at About Title IX.
