African Fact-Checking Awards

Deadline: 1 August 2021
Open to: journalists and journalism students across the continent
Benefits: monetary awards

DESCRIPTION

Entries for the 2021 African Fact-Checking Awards, the longest-running awards programme that honours fact-checking journalism by the media in Africa, are now open. Journalists and journalism students across the continent can enter the awards, now in their eighth year.

“Through the awards, we want to promote the practice of fact-checking and making accurate information available to citizens of all countries across Africa, which is now more important than ever,” says Noko Makgato, executive director at Africa Check.

“This, we believe, will help the public make informed decisions about important issues related to their health, education, politics and more. Ultimately, we expect that this will strengthen democracy and improve the quality of life across the continent.”

The award categories include:

  • Fact-Check of the Year by a Working Journalist
  • Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist
  • One runner-up in each of the two categories above

ELIGIBILITY

  • To qualify, the entry must be an original piece of fact-checking journalism first published or broadcast on any date from 23 August 2020 to 31 July 2021, by a media- or independent fact-checking organisation based in Africa. The work may be published in print or online, broadcast on the radio or television or published in a blog.
  • In the student category, the entry must be an original piece of fact-checking journalism first published or broadcast in a blog, student publication or by a media- or independent fact-checking organisation based in Africa.
  • Entries should expose a claim on an important topic that originated in or is relevant to Africa as misleading or wrong.
  • Candidates can only enter for the awards in one category per year, but can submit more than one report if they choose. Students must have attended a journalism school at some period 23 August 2020 to 31 July 2021 and be younger than 35.
  • Reports published by Africa Check are not eligible for the competition.

BENEFITS

  • The winner of the working journalist category will get a prize of US$3,000, while the runner-up will be awarded $1,500.
  • The winner of the student journalist category will get a prize of $2,000, and the runner-up $1,000.

HOW TO APPLY?

To apply for African Fact-Checking Awards, please click here.
For more details, please visit the official website.