impactAFRICA, Africa’s first data-driven investigative journalism initiative has been launched with US$500,000 in grants and technical support for reportage that changes lives.
The initiative seeks to support pioneering data journalism that tackles development issues, such as public healthcare, in six initial African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
Proposals are expected to focus on in-depth reportage into hidden, neglected or under-reported health and development issues.
The resulting projects should offer compelling storytelling, told in an original way that uses digital techniques for improved audience engagement, and that also uses data to personalise or localise stories for maximum impact.
From the numerous applications received, impactAFRICA will provide technical and material support to 10 projects shortlisted from the applications. It will then award three additional cash prizes for the best of these projects: for the best investigative report; the best data-driven story; and the best service journalism project.
To help journalists prepare their applications, impactAFRICA will facilitate an intensive skills programme. This includes a series of webinars, along with regular online StoryClinics where global experts and mentors will help applicants brainstorm solutions to technical challenges.
“We will help newsrooms use data and digital tools to produce the type of hard-hitting reportage and compelling storytelling that shapes public discourse and gets the attention of policymakers,” impactAFRICA manager, Haji Mohamed Dawjee said in a press release.
She added, “This isn’t just journalism for the sake of journalism: we’re looking to change lives.”
Successful applicants will be assisted by Code for Africa (CfAfrica) technologists to build innovative story projects, using everything from data-driven mobile technologies, to data visualisation and interactive mapping.
CfAfrica will also support grantees to maximise the reach of their projects, by helping to secure syndication into media across the world.
impactAFRICA will also leverage its international partnerships, through the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ), to connect African innovators with their counterparts elsewhere in the Global South.
“The digital revolution has changed what people expect from news. No one wants to be force-fed news about ‘big issues’ anymore. The public is also tired of fearmongering. Instead, people want to be empowered by the news. They want to understand how news affects them personally and they want to know how to use any insights they get from the news to do something tangible,” says Justin Arenstein, CfAfrica founding director.
He added, “Technology enables us to help newsrooms meet these expectations.”
Interested participants should apply for the contest or or before April 15, 2016. The full details and guidelines are available on the impactAFRICA FAQ page.
In addition to the current investigative reporting contest, impactAFRICA will offer a second investigative contest in late 2016, and will also offer two other thematic competitions for beat reporters.
The impactAfrica initiative grows out of a partnership between CfAfrica and the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ).
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Bank and CFI Media Cooperation leads a consortium of donors funding impactAFRICA.