ICFJ Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards 2026 (up to $2,000) – YOA

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Applications are open for the ICFJ Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards 2026. The Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards, offered by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-revenue that runs Wikipedia, celebrates the contributions of journalists in Africa who prioritize accuracy, depth and inclusion of their reporting.

The awards acknowledge the important position journalists play in creating effectively-researched articles that volunteer editors can use as supply supplies to develop content material on Wikipedia and different Wikimedia tasks. Their work helps to develop the data base on one in every of the world’s most visited web sites, in order that it’s extra reflective of the matters, occasions and people who affect the understanding of tradition and historical past by means of the ages.

Awards

• First-place award recipient will obtain USD $2,000, a certificates of recognition and an OPPORTUNITY to be a part of Wikimedia volunteers at one in every of their Community Conferences in 2026. While there, the award recipient can have the alternative to share extra about their experiences as a journalist, and a few of the challenges and alternatives they see of their work.
• Second-place award-recipient will obtain USD $1,000, and a certificates of recognition.
• Special Mentions: One particular point out will likely be given to one further nominee by the ICFJ and Wikimedia Foundation.
• All awardees (together with particular mentions) and their work will likely be celebrated publicly, together with in the media, on the Wikimedia Foundation and ICFJ’s web sites and social media channels.

Eligibility

• Journalists should be residents of a rustic in Africa and primarily reside on the African continent.
• Articles must be about the African continent and relate to points about: Women and/or Youth and Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sports (see extra info beneath about the award classes). Submissions should embrace revealed work in dependable publications and meet excessive requirements of journalistic integrity. 
• Articles ought to have been revealed between January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
• Articles must be revealed in English or French they usually ask French submissions to embrace an English translation.
• The articles must be your personal unique work, with in-depth evaluation and/or investigative reporting.
• African Wikipedia editors acknowledge that on-line written sources are far more “accessible and easy to verify.”  Proof of the article’s publication must be provided in the type of a hyperlink/URL.
• Articles which can be submitted should be correct and effectively researched, with out searching for to misinform or misrepresent info. Objective, effectively researched articles make sure that the info on Wikipedia is correct.
• Because ICFJ and the Wikimedia Foundation respect human rights, they’re in search of articles which can be developed with the utmost respect for folks. They search journalists who reveal moral conduct and adherence to journalistic requirements.
• Wikipedia promotes entry to free data. Because of this, articles should be made out there for viewing with no paywall. If your article is behind a paywall and in addition out there in full elsewhere on-line, that’s acceptable.
• You can solely submit one nomination for this recognition.

Application

Click here to apply

For extra info, go to ICFJ.