Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) has launched the 2026 Isu Elihle Awards, a competition designed to revolutionize how the continent reports on its youngest citizens.
Named after the isiZulu phrase for a “beautiful solution,” the initiative challenges journalists to move beyond traditional narratives and highlight critical issues affecting children across the African continent.
Funding and benefits
The competition offers substantial support to bring impactful stories to life. The top six finalists will each receive financial support of up to R10,000 to research and develop their story ideas into publishable news items.
This funding ensures that journalists have the necessary resources to produce high-quality, in-depth reporting.
Beyond production support, the final published stories will compete for major cash prizes.
The overall winner will receive R30,000, with R20,000 and R15,000 awarded to the first and second runners-up, respectively.
These prizes recognize excellence in framing debates that drive positive societal change.
Journalists who demonstrate exceptional bravery in holding the powerful to account may also qualify for the Mandy Rossouw Accountability Category.
This specialized prize, valued between R10,000 and R20,000, honors the legacy of the late journalist by rewarding stories that demand transparency and justice for children.
Application requirements and eligibility
The awards are open to all professional journalists, whether staff or freelancers, currently working in Africa.
Entries must be original story ideas that have not been previously published, and all submissions must be made in English [4, 8]. Previous top-three winners are not eligible to re-apply.
Proposals must focus on individuals under the age of 18 and prioritize giving children a significant voice in the narrative.
Judges are seeking innovative, ethical, and solution-oriented perspectives that challenge negative stereotypes and explore relevant legislation or policy issues.
Finalists must take full responsibility for securing a commitment from a mainstream news media house to publish or broadcast their completed work.
A formal letter of support from the chosen media outlet is required to ensure the story reaches a wide, influential audience.
Deadline
The window for submitting story ideas for the first stage of the competition is currently open.
Journalists must complete their online applications by 4 June 2026 at 23:59 CAT [9, 10]. Late, incomplete, or handwritten entries will not be considered for the adjudication process.
To apply, visit MMA call page. Visit our global opportunity page for more.
Summary not available at this time.
