Story Contest to Boost Investigative Journalism in Africa

By: ICFJ | 01/19/2016

Code for Africa and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) have launched a half-million dollar story contest to support data-driven investigative reporting that sheds light on neglected or under-reported development topics in Africa.

The impactAFRICA initiative will support ground-breaking data journalism that tackles development issues such as public healthcare and leads to improvements in the lives and well-being of Africans. The project will initially target six key countries: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

“We will help newsrooms use data and digital tools to produce the type of hard-hitting reportage and compelling storytelling that shapes public discourse and gets the attention of policymakers,” says impactAFRICA manager Haji Mohamed Dawjee. “This isn’t just journalism for the sake of journalism; we’re looking to change lives.”

The story contest is a project of Code for Africa, a data journalism initiative founded by media innovation expert Justin Arenstein, a Knight International Journalism Fellow with ICFJ. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provides major funding for the project through a grant to ICFJ.

“How can we use technology and data to enrich coverage of key health issues in Africa?” says ICFJ president Joyce Barnathan. “Just follow the winners of this contest—and you’ll see.”

impactAFRICA will unfold in four rounds over 18 months. Applications for the first round opened on January 18; the deadline for submissions is April 15.

During the first round, the program will provide grants and technical support to 10 projects shortlisted from the applications. This will include a series of workshops, webinars and story clinics where global experts and mentors will help applicants refine their stories and brainstorm solutions to technical challenges. An independent jury of media experts will select the best projects, awarding cash prizes for best service journalism, best investigative report and best data-driven story.

Code for Africa technologists at labs in the six focus countries will help successful applicants build innovative story projects that engage audiences, using everything from mobile technologies to data visualization and interactive mapping. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best final projects in three categories: investigative reporting, data-driven storytelling and service journalism.

For more information on the contest and details about future rounds, visit impactAFRICA.fund.

Related Programs
ICFJ Knight Fellowships
Country/Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Middle East / North Africa

Latest News

ICFJ Fellow Builds Community of Women Journalists in Post-Assad Syria

When Bashar al-Assad’s government was overthrown at the end of 2024, Mais Katt, a Syrian journalist who has lived in exile for 14 years, immediately returned to her country. She was one of the first journalism trainers to enter Damascus after the fall of the regime. Her goal? Help prepare women journalists to take advantage of their newfound freedoms.

ICFJ Fellow Investigates Government Failures in West Bank Refugee Camps

Aziza Nofal, a Palestinian freelance journalist and an ICFJ Jim Hoge Reporting Fellow, through her fellowship, conducted a months-long investigation into the shortage of aid for refugees living in West Bank refugee camps. When Nofal was covering Israeli incursions into West Bank refugee camps for outlets like Al Jazeera, she observed a lack of support from Palestinian authorities.

Hold the Line Coalition Welcomes Maria Ressa and Rappler's Acquittal on Foreign Ownership Case, Urges Closure of Remaining Case

A Filipino court has acquitted Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, along with five Rappler directors, in a long-standing anti-dummy case. Filed in 2018 under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the case was based on the allegation that Rappler had violated constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership of media.