Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling 2020

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The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in collaboration with ONE and the Elliott family seek entries for the 2020 Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling. In its fourth year, this prestigious award will honor an up-and-coming journalist in Africa who tells important stories through quality reporting.


Michael served as a distinguished editor at The Economist, Newsweek and Time before becoming CEO of ONE. During his life, he spoke of his dream to establish an award that would bring together his belief in great journalism with his commitment to progress in Africa.


This award, given in Michael’s name, will provide the winner a $5,000 cash prize to pursue an in-depth reporting project. In a special study tour organized by ICFJ, the winner will visit U.S. newsrooms and meet with journalism and subject matter experts to learn new skills and share knowledge. The winner will also complete a two-week internship at The Economist in London, United Kingdom. In order to take full advantage of the study tour and the internship, applicants must speak English, even if they work in another language.


Past award-winners include Mercy Juma from Kenya and Abubakar Ibrahim from Nigeria. Juma's award-winning story, “Teen Mums of Kwale,” tells of primary school girls whose families make the controversial choice to let them use contraceptives even though the practice is taboo in the Muslim communities of Kenya’s Kwale County. Ibrahim received the award for his story "All That Was Familiar," which chronicles the struggle of two women, one from Cameroon and one from Nigeria, to find their loved ones who have been internally displaced since Boko Haram began its insurgency in those countries. Last year's winner Dorcas Wangira, reported on the harm caused by female genital mutilation and the hope offered by five tech-savvy teenage girls. Her winning report, “The App and The Cut,” has been instrumental in sharing a valuable resource with communities in need, and raising awareness to ban and make FGM a punishable crime. 


We invite you to submit your application if you meet the criteria – and please spread the word. The application deadline is Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. EST.


Eligibility:

  • The contest is open to up-and-coming, English-speaking journalists working in Africa for print, broadcast and online news media.
  • Applicants must have no more than 10 years of journalism experience.
  • Applicants must submit one published story that reflects top-notch storytelling about important issues.
  • The submission can be a feature story; an in-depth, investigative or explanatory piece; or a multimedia report or documentary. The submitted story must have been published between December 1, 2018 and December 1, 2019.
  • The published story or broadcast must be submitted in English. Works in other languages must include English translations.

The application deadline is Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. EST.


A distinguished international jury will select the winner.    


Applicant Information


















Story Information

Please fill out the sections below based on the story you are submitting to the contest. 


Applicants should submit a well-reported piece or series that reflects top-notch storytelling about important issues in Africa. The submission can include a feature story; an in-depth, investigative or explanatory piece; or a multimedia report or documentary.


Please note that you can only submit ONE story. 

The submitted story must have been published between December 1, 2018 and December 1, 2019.
Story:







Professional References

Please upload THREE reference letters from individuals familiar with your work. Each letter should include the reference's name, email, title, and phone number. Reference letters should answer the following questions:
1) Does the applicant uphold journalistic ethics and best practices?
2) What are the applicant's greatest professional strengths?
3) How do you think this journalist demonstrates commitment to telling important stories about modern Africa?




Professional Work and Personal Goals






Agreement to Program Conditions
I, the undersigned, understand and agree that the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), as program administrator, is under no obligation to select me or any other applicant for this program. I agree to all terms and conditions of the program and understand that, if selected as a winner, I will be required to participate in the study tour in Washington, D.C. and internship at The Economist in London, U.K. from May- June 2020. 


ICFJ Privacy Policy
Please note: The International Center for Journalists is committed to protecting the privacy of the people it serves. By submitting an application, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.  

To read more about our privacy policies and how this affects you, please visit our webpage: https://www.icfj.org/privacy
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