Submissions are now being accepted for the 2025 edition of the African Fact-Checking Awards, the continent’s most established platform recognizing excellence in fact-checking journalism. This prestigious competition is open to media professionals, student journalists, and dedicated fact-checkers operating anywhere in Africa. It aims to spotlight outstanding efforts to counter misinformation and promote truth in public discourse.

Eligible submissions must have been originally released — either published or broadcast — between 1 May 2024 and 7 June 2025. Each entry should analyze and verify a public claim relevant to African audiences and determine its inaccuracy or potential to mislead. The fact-check must tackle a subject of societal importance and demonstrate clear evidence of the statement’s falsehood or inaccuracy.

The contest is divided into three segments, each recognizing a winner and a runner-up: one for journalists working in newsrooms, another for professionals specializing in fact-checking, and a third exclusively for journalism students. The leading entries in the journalist and professional fact-checker categories will receive a financial reward of $3,000, while the runners-up in each will take home $1,500. The top student journalist will earn $2,000, and the second-place student will be granted $1,000.

All entries will be carefully evaluated on four key elements. Judges will assess the importance of the claim investigated, considering its societal implications and the potential harm of leaving it unchecked. They will examine the thoroughness of the verification process, ensuring the analysis was fair yet stringent, with credible evidence weighed from all sides. Clarity and effectiveness in presenting the findings will also be considered, with emphasis on how accessible and engaging the report is for general audiences. Lastly, the real-world impact of the investigation will be factored in—whether it influenced public conversation, prompted corrections, or gained traction among other media outlets or institutions.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity