Call for Nominations: Gambia Press Union National Journalism Awards

This is the highest and most prestigious Journalism Awards in the country organised by the Gambia Press Union (GPU) as a flagship event of the annual commemoration of World Press Freedom Day.

Award Categories

• They are excited to reveal the categories to be awarded at this year’s National Journalism Awards organized by The Gambia Press Union.
• There are 21 categories to be awarded. Here is the category list:
  • Business and Finance Reporting Award: Entries should cover reporting in any aspect of the economy or business venture.
  • Sports Reporting Award: Entries should relate to reporting on sports – coverage of sporting events; business behind sport and features on personalities.
  • Environment/Climate Change Reporting Award: Entries should relate to environmental issues: protection of the environment; conservation; climate change and innovative ways to combat environmental damage.
  • Health & Medical Reporting Award: Entries should include coverage of prevention, protection and treatment of diseases and conditions; cost and development of healthcare; and the impact of health issues on communities.
  • Women’s Reporting Award: Entries should relate to reporting on any aspect of women’s issues in the Gambia.
  • Children’s Reporting Award: Entries should relate to reporting on any aspect of issues involving children in The Gambia.
  • Tourism, Culture, Arts and Entertainment Reporting Award: Entries should relate to reporting on any aspect of travel and tourism including how it affects the economy and socio-cultural settings.
  • Agriculture Reporting Award: Entries should cover any coverage of agriculture– farming, animal husbandry, aquaculture etc.
  • Legal Affairs Reporting: Entries for this category should cover reports dealing with issues of transitional justice and Court reporting.
  • Investigative Reporting Award: Entries should cover reporting in any aspect of Investigative reporting.
  • Tax Reporting Award: Entries for this category should cover reports dealing with issues related to Tax reporting.
  • Online Media/Networks of the year: This category is subjected to a public vote. Details of public voting will be published in due cause.
  • Newspaper of the year: This category is subjected to a public vote. Details of public voting will be published in due cause.
  • Television station of the year: This category is subjected to a public vote. Details of public voting will be published in due cause.
  • Security Reporting Award: Entries for this category should cover reports dealing with issues of security reporting.
  • Photo Journalism Award: Entries should cover any aspect of photo journalism and the entry must be published within the 2022 award entry timeline under consideration.
  • Human Rights Reporting Award: Entries should cover reporting in any aspect of Human rights.
  • Community /Rural Radio Station of the Year: This category is subjected to a public vote. Details of public voting will be published in due cause.
  • Migration & Human Trafficking Reporting Award: Entries should cover reporting in any aspect of Human trafficking and migration.
  • Political Reporting Award: Entries should cover reporting on Gambian politics and political activities.
  • Investigative Reporting Award: Entries should cover reporting in any aspect of Investigative reporting.

Eligibility Criteria

• The competition is open to all registered Gambia-based media outlets and journalists. Also, Gambian focused media outlets operating outside the country will be considered for this year’s awards. Gambian journalists whose stories are published on local and foreign media outlets are also eligible. All entries must have Gambia news values.
• Work must be published/broadcast between the 1st of January 2023 and the 31st of December 2023.
• Opinion articles, advertorials, work produced under contract for commercial promotion and newsletter issues/articles are not eligible.
• Personal blog, personal social media accounts/pages (Facebook, Instagram, twitter, etc.) and content from non-media outlets are not eligible.

Submission Rules

• You may submit as many entries as desired. However, DO NOT submit more than two works/stories for a single category.
• In addition, a work/story CANNOT be submitted in more than one category. Each entry has to be accompanied by a submission form. Example, one submission for one entry; two submissions for two entries, etc.
• Audio or video entries for news items must not be more than 3 minutes news pieces. Features and special reports can go up to 7mins and long.
• Text entries can be up to 3,000 words long.
• All entries must be in English language.
• Audio and Video entries that are not in English must be translated or subtitled in English.
• Submissions can also be made by any Editor for another journalist, irrespective of whether that journalist is a member of his/her staff.

Application Requirements

• Each entry must be accompanied by a completely-filled submission form.
• Fill the submission form below and upload your files via the website. Alternatively, download and fill the submission form and send as email attachment, together with your entry, in the appropriate format (PDF, for text; mp3, for audio; and mp4, for video).
• Text button- use this for Print/newspaper entries and upload scanned entries in PDF file format.
• Audio button – use this for audio entries and submit using mp3 file format.
• Video – use this button to upload video entries in preferably mp4 format.
• Please note: The maximum file size for upload is 100MB. Large files take time to upload and may stall or fail when internet connection is low. So, it’s best to confirm and ensure file sizes are within the maximum limit. Consider reducing files sizes, if beyond the limit allowed.

For more information, visit Gambia Press Union.