The Abuja-based non-governmental organization, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), has announced a call for applications for the 2026 edition of its Excellence in Journalism Awards, inviting journalists, fact-checkers, and media organisations from eight West African countries to submit their outstanding works for recognition.
The awards, now in their third edition, are aimed at promoting independent journalism that advances accountability and sustainable development, while recognising excellence in journalism, newsroom leadership, fact-checking, media innovation, and community-centred reporting across West Africa.
Entries are open to eligible applicants based in Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire. Winners will receive award plaques and prizes at a ceremony scheduled to hold in November 2026 as part of CJID’s Media and Development Conference.
The 2026 awards feature eight reporting categories, namely: Best Fact-check in West Africa; Best Health Reporting; Best Climate Change and Environmental Reporting; Best Solutions Journalism Reporting; Best Community Reporting; Best Reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence; Best Reporting on Social Accountability; and Best Reporting on Human Rights.
The Best Fact-check in West Africa category will recognise an outstanding fact-check that successfully exposes and debunks misinformation or disinformation. Entries should demonstrate rigorous investigation, reliance on verifiable evidence, sound conclusions, and meaningful public impact.
The Best Health Reporting in West Africa award will honour exceptional journalism on health issues that has increased public awareness, influenced policy or contributed to positive changes in sustainable healthcare delivery across the region.
The Best Climate Change and Environmental Reporting in West Africa category will celebrate journalism that draws attention to climate change and environmental challenges, including their impacts, possible solutions, conservation, pollution, and natural resource management. It highlights the role of the media in promoting environmental awareness and sustainability.
The Best Solutions Journalism Reporting in West Africa award will recognise journalism that goes beyond identifying problems by examining innovative evidence-based responses to social, economic, or political challenges facing communities and societies in West Africa.
The Best Community Reporting in West Africa category will honour impactful reporting focused on local governance, community concerns, and citizen engagement, particularly journalism that has contributed to positive change and improved conditions at the grassroots level.
The Best Reporting on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence award will recognise investigative or solutions-oriented journalism that brings attention to sexual and gender-based violence, gives visibility to the experiences and needs of survivors, and contributes to advocacy, accountability, or improved policy responses.
The Best Reporting on Social Accountability category will celebrate journalism that holds governments, public institutions, or other duty bearers accountable, particularly in relation to the management of public resources, human rights, and governance. It recognises reporting that promotes transparency and public accountability.
The Best Reporting on Human Rights award will honour journalism that exposes human rights violations, amplifies the voices and experiences of affected individuals and communities, and contributes to accountability, public awareness, or policy change on human rights issues in West Africa.
CJID has also introduced an Editor of the Year Award, which will recognise an editor whose leadership, editorial judgement, and commitment to excellence have significantly strengthened the quality of journalism in their newsroom. It acknowledges the crucial role editors play in shaping editorial direction, maintaining professional and ethical standards, mentoring journalists and supporting investigative and public-interest reporting. Eligible nominees must be full-time editors with at least five years of editorial experience and must be nominated by their media organisations.
For the reporters’ awards, entries must be original work published or broadcast between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026. Applicants may submit only one entry per category and a maximum of two entries overall. Entries submitted in previous editions will not be eligible.
In a reflection of the growing role of artificial intelligence in journalism, CJID said applicants will also be required to submit a statement of no more than 100 words disclosing whether and how AI was used in the reporting or editorial process. Failure to make such a declaration could result in disqualification if AI use is subsequently established.
Entries may be submitted in any of the region’s languages, but non-English submissions must be accompanied by English translations. Employees and relatives of CJID or its fact-checking platform, DUBAWA, are not eligible to apply, and stories funded or supported by the organisations are also excluded.
The deadline for submission is September 12, 2026. Applications will first be reviewed by a panel of experts before being considered by an independent panel of judges drawn from journalism, media development, and civil society. Winners will be selected based on the quality, originality, investigative rigour, and demonstrated impact of their work.
The winners will be honoured at an in-person ceremony during the CJID Media and Development Conference in November 2026.
For more information, please go to https://thecjid.org/call-for-applications-cjid-2026-excellence-in-journalism-awards/.
