Fellowship Program: Australian Associated Press Journalist Tess Ikonomou
As part of the 2025-2026 FPCJ Fellowship Program, Ms. Tess Ikonomou, federal political reporter for the Australian Associated Press (AAP), visited Japan from February 15 to 21, 2026.
The AAP is an independent national Australian news agency founded in 1935, which provides articles and images to hundreds of Australian media organizations, helping support diversity in Australia’s media environment.
While in Japan, Ms. Ikonomou covered three topics: security and diplomacy, tourism, and transport oriented development. She visited Tokyo, Chiba, and Hiroshima. In addition to briefings from various government agencies, she interviewed experts in different fields and management from private sector companies. As part of her coverage of the defensive relationship between Australia and Japan, she also visited the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Naval Base in Kure, Hiroshima, and saw the Mogami-class frigate Niyodo.
