Emerging Health Technologies Media Award of Excellence

Through the Platform for Dialogue and Action on Health Technologies in Africa (Health Tech Platform), the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) announces a call for entries for the second edition of the 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.

Objectives

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.

The award focuses on 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.

Eligibility

The EHTs Media Award is open to published and broadcasted works in print, radio, television, and online media.

The award is open to African journalists publishing in African-led and African-based media houses. The competition is open to individual journalists and not media institutions or organisations.

The period of publication/broadcast of entries for this call is media stories published between 1 November 2022 and 30 August 2023.

The entries 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.

Languages

All entries are required to be in English or French. Stories done in local languages should be translated, and the original language indicated.

Categories

Individuals may submit three entries per category published during the period indicated above to be eligible for the award.

The 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.

Journalists 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.
• Copy of identification
• Submitted files should not exceed 15MB

Entries should be submitted to the AFIDEP secretariat at [email protected], copying [email protected] and [email protected]. Please note that communication with the organisers is in English.

Selection

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.

Respects for Copyrights

All works submitted must be original and in conformity with copyright requirements.

Prizes

• EHTs Media Award Grand Prize: USD5,000
• EHTs Media Award Print Category: USD2,500; Runner-up USD1, 000
• EHTs Media Award Radio Category: USD2,500; Runner-up USD1,000
• EHTs Media Award Television Category: USD2,500; Runner-up USD1,000
• EHTs Media Award Online Category: USD2,500; Runner-up USD1,000

The winners will be announced in December 2023.

Download the media kit here.