ELP Home       I         Program & Faculty      I        Alumni Testimonials

For more than 20 years, AAJA’s prestigious Executive Leadership Program (ELP) has been developing leaders for the media industry in an increasingly diverse and cross-cultural world. 

AAJA’s Executive Leadership Program will be back in 2026 with a fully in-person program on 18-22 May. The program will be held in Bangkok before AAJA-Asia’s New.Now.Next Media conference (N3Con 2026). Interested in applying? Register below for our Ask Me Anything session on 11 March. 

ELP is a transformative experience, carefully cultivated to grow mid-career journalists as news leaders, managers and executives who can thrive in uncertain times and build a sustainable future for journalism. The program explores the responsibilities and challenges of a media workplace, leading in a changing landscape and the role of cultural values in a corporate environment. It’s a unique opportunity to learn, in a small and nurturing environment, from the experienced career coaches, senior news executives and industry leaders. 

ELP has trained more than 500 media professionals to date, successfully fostering a pipeline of savvy industry leaders — many at major media companies — and providing graduates with access to a robust, life-long, and supportive alumni network. An in-demand program, ELP 2026 will accept a limited number of fellows: 15 spots only will be exclusively offered to journalists based in the Asia Pacific region. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis between 25 February and 6 April 2026 or until all available seats are booked, whatever the earlier.  

Tuition fees

• AAJA members: $ 1,500 USD 
• Non-members: $2,000 USD 

Tuition fees include the costs of training materials, lunches and coffee-breaks for five days, from May 18 to May 22. It comprises as well a welcome dinner and full registration for AAJA-Asia’s New.Now.Next Media Conference 2026 (N3Con), including a networking reception and closing dinner. For registration of three participants or more, please consult us for a group discount. 

For assistance with tuition, consider these opportunities: 

• Join the AAJA-Asia membership today to enjoy an immediate 25% discount on the program, on top of all the other AAJA membership benefits.  
• AAJA-Asia Executive Leadership Program Fellowship: Launched in 2025 to encourage AAJA-Asia members to apply to the Executive Leadership Program, the fellowship provides up to $1,000 discount on ELP fees to members who have been active within the Asia chapter in a leadership role or as a contributor to AAJA-Asia’s regional or local projects. All AAJA members’ applications to ELP are automatically considered for this fellowship opportunity. There is no separate application process required.  
• Apply for the Dinah Eng Leadership Fellowship, which grants up to $1,000 to professionals seeking newsroom leadership training and management development. AAJA-Asia will co-sponsor the remaining amount of the tuition fees for successful AAJA-Asia members applicants to these grants. 
• Explore funding from journalists or publishers associations and media development organizations on your respective markets. 

 Apply Here

 For any information, please write to asia@aaja.org

Have questions? Join our AMA session on 11 March

Register here for the AMA Session

SIGN UP FOR A 100% TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE!

AAJA-Asia, with the help of the Google News Initiative – who sponsors the ELP program’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Fellowships in Asia – has gathered testimonials from ELP Alumni in Asia and the US explaining how important their participation in this program has been in their journalistic career. Watch or read their inspiring feedback in the ELP Alumni Series.   

NOT A BUSINESS-AS-USUAL PROGRAM

The Executive Leadership Program (ELP) is for any professional journalists interested in advancing their career and developing the skills to achieve their professional and personal goals. ELP is a challenging, practical and life changing experience. 

This is not a business-as-usual program about how to become a better manager. It is a transformational experience program aimed at developing the next generation of diverse journalism leaders who can lead in uncertain times and build a sustainable future for journalism.  

The ELP 2026 Seminar is designed to deliver high impact in a small group setting. Professional career coaches and industry executives facilitate the program’s robust curriculum. Key program benefits also include:

• Connecting with industry peers and leaders from Asia and the US 
• Career coaching and mentorship: small group pairing with a senior news leader at a major media company 
• In-person “Executive Real Talks” from senior news executives 

The trainings are highly interactive and have participants engaged in timely discussions, such as:

• How do leadership styles across various cultures affect our work?
• Deconstructing corporate culture to inform paths to success and overcoming barriers. In what ways does my background and passion impact my work? 
• How does digital media impact the industry and what is my role in it? 
• How can I meaningfully contribute to the industry and my community? 
• What lessons can be learned from established and emerging media markets? 

Specifically, participants explore perspectives and gain concrete approaches on: 

• Diversity and culture in the workplace  
• Leadership skills, styles, and opportunities 
• Power, politics, and influence 
• Professional and career goal setting 
• Personal branding and confidence 
• Negotiation tactics and applications 

 Apply Here