Deadline: 09-Jan-2026
The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), the ONE Campaign, and the Elliott family are pleased to announce the Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling.
The award honors up-and-coming journalists in Africa who strive to strengthen people’s voices and illuminate the transformational change taking place on the continent. The award entries must represent groundbreaking journalistic work published between December 1, 2024, and December 1, 2025.
Winners will be selected on the quality of their piece and the impact their work has had in communities. They welcome excellent submissions in all media, especially those that demonstrate analytical skills in addition to outstanding writing ability.
The award offers an exceptional opportunity for emerging African journalists to gain international recognition for their impactful work. Winners will receive a $5,000 cash prize along with a personalized award certificate, acknowledging their excellence in reporting and storytelling.
Beyond the monetary reward, winners will also have the unique chance to complete a two-week internship at The Economist in London, UK, from June 22, 2026, to July 3, 2026.
Eligibility for the contest is open to English-speaking journalists based in Africa who work in print, broadcast, or online news media, and have no more than ten years of journalism experience.
Applicants are required to submit one published piece that exemplifies Africa through thoughtful reporting and excellent storytelling. The organizers particularly encourage investigative or explanatory submissions that highlight transformational change across the continent.
Each entry must include a copy of the published story or broadcast clip in English. Works originally produced in other languages must be accompanied by an English translation. Submissions are welcomed from print, broadcast, and digital journalists, including multimedia works such as web, audio, video, visual, or mixed media.
A distinguished international jury comprising media leaders from the US, UK, and Africa will review the entries and select the winners. All applicants will be notified of their status by spring 2026.
The application form for the 2026 cycle is now available, and the deadline for submissions is Sunday, January 9, 2026.
For more information, visit ICFJ.
