Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling 2026 ($5,000 cash prize) – YOA

Deadline: January 9, 2026

Applications are open for Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling 2026. The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), the ONE Campaign, and the Elliott household are blissful 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 attempt to strengthen folks’s voices and illuminate the transformational change going down on the continent. The award entries should characterize groundbreaking journalistic work revealed between December 1, 2024, and December 1, 2025. Winners shall be chosen on the standard of their piece and the influence their work has had in communities. They welcome wonderful submissions in all media, particularly those who show analytical expertise in addition to excellent writing means.

Benefits

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

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 by means of considerate reporting and wonderful storytelling. They are wanting for impactful investigative or explanatory items, particularly those who illuminate transformational change in Africa.
• A replica of the revealed story or broadcast clip should be submitted in English. Works in different languages should embrace English translations. They welcome submissions from print, broadcast, or digital journalists. Multimedia submissions might embrace net, audio, video, visible, or combined media.
• The submitted story should be revealed between December 1, 2024, and December 1, 2025.

Application

The deadline for purposes is Sunday, January 9, 2026. A distinguished worldwide jury together with media leaders from the US, UK, and Africa will choose the winners. They will attain out to all candidates to inform them of their standing by the spring of 2026.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to Michael Elliott Award.