2026 ICFJ/ONE Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling (US$5,000 cash prize & professional development program at The Economist’s HQ in London, UK)

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Application Deadline: Sunday, January 9, 2026.

Applications are actually open for the 2026 ICFJ/ONE Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling. The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), the ONE Campaign, and the Elliott household are joyful to announce a name for entries for the Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling.

The award honors up-and-coming journalists in Africa who try to strengthen individuals’s voices and illuminate the transformational change happening on the continent. The award entries should symbolize groundbreaking journalistic work revealed between December 1, 2024, and December 1, 2025. Winners can be chosen on the standard of their piece and the influence their work has had in communities. We welcome wonderful submissions in all media, particularly those who exhibit analytical expertise in addition to excellent writing capability.

Eligibility

• The contest is open to English-speaking journalists working in Africa for print, broadcast, and on-line information media. Applicants should have not more than 10 years of journalism expertise.
• Applicants should submit one revealed piece that exemplifies Africa via considerate reporting and wonderful storytelling. We are trying for impactful investigative or explanatory items, particularly those who illuminate transformational change in Africa.
• A duplicate of the revealed story or broadcast clip should be submitted in English. Works in different languages should embody English translations. We welcome submissions from print, broadcast, or digital journalists. Multimedia submissions might embody net, audio, video, visible, or blended media.
• The submitted story should be revealed between December 1, 2024, and December 1, 2025.

A distinguished worldwide jury together with media leaders from the US, UK, and Africa will choose the winners. We will attain out to all candidates to inform them of their standing by the spring of 2026.

Benefits

• The winners will obtain a $5,000 cash prize and a customized award certificates. The winners could have a rare alternative to finish a two-week internship at The Economist in London, UK, from June 22, 2026, to July 3, 2026.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the ICFJ/ONE Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling