Celebrating its eleventh year, the prestigious African Fact-Checking Awards continue to recognize and honour the critical role of fact-checking journalism within the media landscape of Africa. As the most enduring awards program of its kind on the continent, it opens its doors for the 2024 submissions, inviting journalists, journalism students, and professional fact-checkers from across Africa to showcase their dedication to truth and accuracy.
The essence of the African Fact-Checking Awards lies in its commitment to uplifting the standards of journalism by debunking misleading or incorrect claims related to significant issues within or connected to Africa. With three distinguished categories, the awards aim to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of working journalists, professional fact-checkers, and student journalists. Winners in the professional and working journalist categories will be rewarded with US$3,000, while runners-up will receive US$1,500. Student journalists stand to win a prize of US$2,000, with their runners-up receiving US$1,000, highlighting the awards’ dedication to encouraging the next generation of fact-checkers.
To partake in this esteemed competition, entrants must submit original work that has been published or broadcast between July 1, 2023, and July 14, 2024. The competition stipulates that all entries must accurately identify the author or team behind the submission, challenge a claim of significance to Africa as misleading or incorrect, and be submitted before the deadline on July 14, 2024, via the official entry form. Additionally, submissions can be in any language, though the entry form must be in English or French. Winners are decided through a rigorous selection process that evaluates the significance, testing, presentation, and impact of the fact-checks, ensuring that only the most diligent and impactful entries are celebrated.
For those interested in applying, the process is straightforward. Visit the official application page on docs.google.com and submit your work to become a part of this remarkable journey towards promoting truth and integrity in African journalism. The African Fact-Checking Awards not only offer a platform for recognition but also serve as an invaluable contribution to the fight against misinformation, encouraging a more informed and critical society.