Deadline: 27 April 2018
The Africa-China Reporting Project (the Project) at Wits Journalism is inviting all journalists to submit proposals for a series of Africa-China investigative journalism grants intended for larger and more expansive investigations. This series of grants will be supervised by Anton Harber, Caxton Professor of Journalism at Wits Journalism, who will work directly with the selected journalists.
Now in 2018 the Project intends to support more expansive Africa-China investigations by identifying competent journalists and partners to undertake investigative journalism.
The Project is seeking to work with journalists who are able to deeply investigate a single topic of interest within the broad Africa-China framework, and additionally who are able to involve more partners who can assist the investigations, such as news agencies, investigative units, etc.
Potential Focus Areas
For these investigative reporting grants the Project thus encourages journalists to submit proposals that aim to bring to light fresh and nuanced investigations bringing in new learning about complex Africa-China relations, and ideally that involves other partners and institutions that can collaborate on and expand the investigation; the Project can potentially assist applicants to form partnerships with potential partners. The important thing is for applicants to come with fresh and new ideas for investigations and a feasible plan to carry them out. The Project also encourages multimedia reporting.
As the pangolin investigation above illustrates, there is wide scope in environmental issues for Africa-China investigative journalism and much that can still be investigated in this field. Yet within the Africa-China framework there are various issues where fresh and ground-breaking reporting can be undertaken, such as the following:
- Economy: Corporate activities, criminal networks, business links, etc.
- Social: Health, public services, etc.
- Political: Government dealings/engagements, aid and development assistance, education and sponsorships, etc.
- Environment: Following-up on the ban in ivory trade, complexities of implementation; poaching & trafficking; pollution, etc.
- And more topics such as agriculture; industrialisation; change/evolution in Africa-China ties; anti-piracy measures; Chinese private security in Africa and the arms trade
These are suggested themes, but as long as the focus is within the broad Africa-China framework the Project will consider each proposal on its own merits.
Funding Information
A budget with specific line items totaling as much as $3,000.
How to Apply
- The Project is looking for experienced investigative journalists who have new and fresh ideas and the means to deliver them.
- Applications must be submitted at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit Investigative Journalism Grants 2018.