Wole Soyinka 2023 Award: Recognizing Excellence in Investigative Reporting by Nigerian Journalists

The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) is excited to announce the commencement of submissions for the 18th edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR). Journalists can submit their entries from Wednesday, October 4, to Tuesday, October 24, 2023, by 4:00 PM.

The award invites entries from Nigerian reporters, both individuals and teams, encompassing full-time professionals and freelancers, who have published stories in the Nigerian news media, primarily aimed at the Nigerian audience.

In the spirit of its tradition, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) will continue to acknowledge outstanding journalism in various formats, including print, online, photojournalism, editorial cartooning, television, and radio. The focus remains on investigative reporting that uncovers public and corporate corruption, sheds light on human rights violations, and exposes regulatory abuses in Nigeria. The submitted stories should be newsworthy and investigative in nature, unveiling or preventing covert activities and corruption in both the public and private sectors while also promoting human rights

Eligibility:

The award is open to Nigerian professional reporters or reporter teams (full-time or freelancers) aged 18 years and above. Their published works, whether online, in print, or via electronic media, should be primarily intended for and received by a Nigerian audience.

Criteria:

To be eligible, the submitted work (single work or single-subject serial) must revolve around reporting on public or corporate corruption, human rights violations, or the shortcomings of regulatory agencies. These stories should exhibit a high level of investigative quality, with an emphasis on newsworthiness, the potential to expose or prevent clandestine activities and corruption in the public sphere, and a deep understanding of human rights implications, enhanced by the quality of presentation. The works should have been first published or broadcast in Nigerian media between October 4, 2022, and October 3, 2023.

Categories: