Executive Director, The African Institute for Development Policy
The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), through its initiative, the Platform for Dialogue and Action on Health Technologies in Africa (Health Tech Platform), has announced the opening of applications for the second edition of its Emerging Health Technologies (EHTs) Media Award of Excellence.
The EHTs Media Award is an annual recognition of journalists who contribute to increasing the public’s awareness and understanding of EHTs, and putting them on the agenda of governments in Africa through quality media reporting.
AFIDEP was established to facilitate informed, objective, transparent, open and balanced discussions on the development and use of emerging tools and technologies to address key health challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The objectives of the EHTs Media Award are to promote quality reporting of the emerging health technologies being developed for use in Africa, as well as to raise public awareness, understanding, participation, and local ownership of these technologies.
It is aimed at emerging health technologies prioritised by the African Union as having the potential to change the trajectory of disease and health in Africa if well developed, tested, and deployed. The technologies include gene drives and monoclonal antibodies for malaria control, drones, microgrids, artificial intelligence, gene editing, and next-generation medicine.
The EHTs Media Award is open to published and broadcast works in print, radio, television, and online media as well as to African journalists publishing in African-led and African-based media houses as well as individual journalists and not media institutions or organisations.
Applications must contain media stories published between November 1, 2022 and August 30, 2023.
Applications should address EHT development issues relevant to Africa, such as ongoing research, regulatory frameworks needed to guide this work, community participation, public awareness and understanding, involvement of African scientists, and equity and benefit sharing. Stories may cover issues applicable to one African country or be regional in scope.
Applications must be in English or French. Stories done in local languages should be translated, and the original language indicated.
Individuals may submit up to three applications per category published during the period to be eligible for the award.
The awards categories are as follows:
- Print journalism: Feature/article between 700 and 1,500 words published in a newspaper, magazine, journal or newsletter.
- Radio journalism: Documentary or discussion programme between 5 and 45 minutes.
- Television journalism: Documentary or discussion programme between 5 and 45 minutes.
- Online/new media: Feature/article between 700 and 1,500 words, or audio/visual documentary or discussion programme between 5 and 45 minutes. This must be published in an online-only newspaper, magazine, journal or media house.
Applicants are encouraged to submit entries by sharing: Link to the published article/programme for online entries; pdf attachment for entries in the Print Category; copies of the TV or radio files, stating the date and time programme aired and copy of identification and submitted files which should not exceed 15MB.
An independent judging committee will select the best works based on well-investigated stories referencing multiple sources of scientific evidence and expert views, initiative, originality, clarity of interpretation, and value in fostering a better public understanding of emerging health technologies.
All applications submitted must be original and in conformity with copyright requirements.
The winner of the EHTs Media Award Grand Prize will be given USD5,000; EHTs Media Award Print Category will be given USD2,500, while the Runner-up will be given USD1, 000. EHTs Media Award Radio Category will get USD2,500, while the Runner-up will be given USD1,000. EHTs Media Award Television Category will get USD2,500, while the Runner-up will be given USD1,000 and EHTs Media Award Online Category will be given USD2,500, while the Runner-up gets USD1,000.
Applications should be sent by email to the AFIDEP secretariat at htp@afidep.org, copying Pauline.Soy@afidep.org and Adaudo.Anyiam-Osigwe@afidep.org. Applicants should please note that communication with the organisers should be in English.
The winners will be announced in December 2023. The application closes by September 15, 2023.
