The International Center for Journalists is now seeking entries for the 2019 Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling. We’d be delighted if you could share our open call for nominations with your network –– or let us know if you have a great nominee who meets the criteria. Of course, we encourage you to apply as well! The application deadline is Sunday, December 2, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

In its third year, this prestigious award will honor an up-and-coming journalist in Africa who tells important stories through quality reporting. In a special study tour organized by ICFJ, the winner will spend time in U.S. newsrooms to learn new skills and share knowledge. ICFJ has also partnered with The Economist to provide the winner a wonderful opportunity to complete a two-week internship at its headquarters in London. The winner also receives a US$5,000 cash prize to pursue an in-depth reporting project.

Our 2018 award winner, Nigerian journalist Abubakar Ibrahim,  “All That Was Familiar,” puts a human face on a story often expressed in numbers: More than 2 million people from northeastern Nigeria, northern Cameroon and southern Niger have been internally displaced since Boko Haram began its insurgency. Ibrahim tells about the struggle of two women, one from Cameroon and one from Nigeria, to find their loved ones and return home. Within a month of his fellowship, he received a promotion to the position of features editor of the Daily Trust newspapers.

More information about him and the award are in this Q&A and on the ICFJ and ONE websites.

To nominate someone or for more information on the award and application process, feel free to reach out to Zainab Imam at zimam@icfj.org or Lori Ke and lke@icfj.org.