Excellence in Journalism Award (Guinea)

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), in partnership with the United States Embassy in Guinea, has opened applications for the first Excellence in Journalism Award to recognize independent journalists who produce the highest quality enterprising reporting and innovative reporting that informs communities and holds public figures accountable.

With the chance for winners to attend an in-person workshop and receive reporting grants, this prize will also equip them to carry out this vital work and become bulwarks against the return of corruption, human rights violations and the neglect and mismanagement that created the conditions for the coup.

Categories

• Responsible Journalism: For a distinguished example of journalism that specifically seeks to hold high-profile individuals or entities accountable. The submission may cover political, cultural or economic elites or the impact of their actions on the public.
• Investigative Reporting: For an outstanding example of investigative reporting using any journalistic tool available. Any article or series that provides insight into an important and complex topic, demonstrates mastery of the subject, lucid writing and clear presentation, and allows readers to place the information in a meaningful context. Where possible, articles should leverage current technologies for reporting and storytelling, including data visualization, interactive graphics, and creative use of social media.
• In-depth reporting: This award recognizes in-depth articles that stand out for the quality of their writing, their originality and their conciseness. Articles not relating to news items stand out for the quality of their writing. Articles should be memorable in terms of reporting, elaboration and creativity. Submissions may consist of a single article, a portfolio of independent articles, or a series of articles on a single topic.
• Editorial Writing: For distinguished editorial writing, the criterion of excellence being clarity of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and the power to influence public opinion in what the author conceives to be the right direction.
• Image Reportage: For an outstanding example of news or reporting photography or video in black and white or color.
• Audio reporting: For an outstanding example of audio journalism serving the public interest, characterized by quality reporting, writing and production.
• Courage in Journalism: For an outstanding example of journalism that critiques and challenges threats to press freedom and journalistic professionalism.
• Reporting on Critical Gender Issues: For a striking example of journalism that highlights women or gender non-conforming people in society and their contributions or struggles in various fields, including but not limited to, journalism.

Prize Information

• Award winners will receive a special invitation to attend an intensive, three-day, in-person journalism training program in Guinea in 2024.
• Prize winners will also be eligible for $1,000 reporting grants, as well as one-on-one mentorship during their reporting projects.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications must relate to work published in Guinea during the calendar year. They must indicate the category in which they are submitted and include a biography and contact details of the journalists cited.
  Anyone can submit work to the competition, whether they are a news organization editor, an individual journalist or a reader.
• To be considered, the work must originate from a Guinean newspaper, magazine, radio or television service, blog, news agency or news site who publishes regularly.
• Independent journalists, photographers, cartoonists, columnists, critics or bloggers who produce work in print or online are eligible to enter the competition if their work has been published by eligible newspapers, magazines or news sites during the calendar year.

Learn more here and apply.