Deadline: April 30, 2021
Applications are open for the Media Monitoring Africa lsu Elihle Awards 2021 for African Journalists. The Isu Elihle Awards were launched in 2016 by MMA with the support of Save the Children International, the Swedish International Development Agency and Media Network on Child Rights Development (MNCRD) based in Zambia.
The awards seek to contribute to a change in attitudes and behaviors of opinion and decision-makers and citizens across the country and continent from the premise that the media frames debates in society and carries enormous influence and, therefore, ability to drive positive change. This year marks five years since these Awards were launched.
These awards aim to encourage journalist to highlight issues that are faced by children in the continent. Journalist from more than twenty countries have applied in the previous years and diverse issues about children have been raised. This shows that these awards have gained a lot of traction within the continent. They encourage journalists to submit their unique story ideas within the stated time frame.
Prizes
- Overall winner: R25 000
- First runner up: R15 000
- Second runner up: R10 000
- Mandy Rossouw Category: Between R10 000 and R25 000
Eligibility
- Open to professional journalists, whether directly employed or freelancers, working in the continent of Africa.
- The Competition is held in English. Therefore all entries and story ideas should be in English.
- Applicants are strictly limited to a maximum of one entry; however, each media house can have as many applicants as it wishes.
- Employees and the immediate families of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) are not eligible to participate in the competition.
Judging Criteria
Note that both the story idea and the published story will be judged according to the criteria below:
- The focus on or extensive voice given to children or an issue that impacts children. Children are defined as any persons between the ages of 0-17.
- Consideration for the best interests of children and the ethical manner in which children are treated and given a voice in the story (Ethical Guidelines). Journalists must adhere to ethical practices and principles in the planning and execution of the story as MMA will not tolerate the violation of children’s rights in any shape or form.
- Fresh, innovative, and different perspective to children’s issues and/or investigative angle undertaken to report on issue.
- Must be able to complete the story in the period allowed.
- Clarity of the issue and extent to which story engages and captures audiences. The story could be about an area that is not commonly given a children’s angle such as the economy or economic impact on children, land issues, investment or an existing news story and giving it a children’s focus.
- Stories need to highlight possible solutions to the problem or issues that children face.
- Extent to which story challenges common negative stereotypes about the roles of children in society, especially within the gender debate.
- The story should also explore relevant legislation of policy issues related to the issue being explored.
Application
Entries should be made in accordance with the instructions given on the competition entry form and must be submitted on, or before, 00:00 (CAT) 30 April 2021. After this date, no extensions will be made.
For more information, visit lsu Elihle Awards.
