18th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting applications opens 4 October

The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) is thrilled to announce that journalists may submit their entries for the 18th edition of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) from Wednesday 4 October to Tuesday 24 October 2023 by 4pm. The award welcomes entries from Nigerian reporters, individuals or teams and full-time or freelancers, who have published stories in the Nigerian news media directly mainly at the Nigerian audience. Interested journalists are encouraged to carefully read the entry criteria for each award category and apply here.

This year, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) will continue its tradition of recognising exceptional journalism across print, online, photojournalism, editorial cartooning, television and radio genres that investigates public and corporate corruption, exposes human rights violations, and highlights regulatory abuses in Nigeria. The stories must be newsworthy, investigative, expose or prevent clandestine activities and corruption in the public and private domain and promote human rights.

A panel of media experts and industry professionals will assess the entries using WSCIJ’s meticulous award coding and vetting system. Judges will score submissions based on the quality of investigation, the strength of evidence presented, human rights elements, ethical reporting standards, journalistic courage, individual creativity, public interest, tangible impact and overall presentation.

Since its inception in 2005, the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting has recognised the contributions of 116 finalists, 59 Soyinka Laureates, 13 investigative journalists of the year and 28  honorary awards recipients.

Signed:

Motunrayo Alaka

Executive Director/CEO, WSCIJ