Conduct research or develop a professional project in two or three of the participating countries or locations within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Scholars must be approved for research in at least two countries or locations in order to receive the award. Final awards are contingent upon each host country/location approval and clearance by host countries, as appropriate.

Host institutions welcome scholars to support the development of a journalism and media program/department through teaching courses and/or developing curriculum that promote journalistic ethics, investigative journalism, the business of journalism, digital journalism, as well as journalism theory and core journalistic techniques.