SADC Media Awards Competition 2026 for Journalists from Southern Africa (USD 14,000 in prizes)

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Application Deadline: February 29, 2026.

Applications are now open for the2026 SADC Media Awards Competition. The Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 SADC Media Awards competition in the four categories namely, Photo, Print, Television and Radio Journalism.

The SADC Media Awards are open to journalists from the SADC Member States. The Awards were established in 1996 to recognise best media work in disseminating information on SADC to support the process of regional co-operation, integration and development in the SADC region. The first prize winner in each category receives US$2,500 and the runner-up receives US$1000.

Kindly note that the SADC Secretariat does not receive submissions of entries directly from journalists. All entries must be submitted to the National Media Coordinators for processing at the national level.

Entries are invited from the following categories: i) Print Journalism: comprising features/articles published in newspapers, newsletters, websites, magazines.

• Print Journalism submissions should have a minimum of 100 (one hundred words and a maximum of 2000 (two thousand) words. ii) Radio Journalism: comprising broadcast material.
• Radio Journalism broadcast material should have a minimum duration of 1 (one) minute and a maximum of 30 (thirty) minutes. All broadcast material should be submitted on a CD or USB. The entries should be accompanied by electronic transcript in word format for translation purposes. iii)Television Journalism: comprising televised material. Broadcast material should have a minimum duration of 1 (one) minute and a maximum of forty-five (45) minutes. All broadcast material should be submitted on a CD or USB. The entries should be accompanied by electronic transcript in word format for translation purposes. iv) Photojournalism: comprising published pictures with a caption. Photographic entries should have one (1) photo, or a pictorial spread of not more than twenty (20) photos published in one issue/edition. Each entry must be accompanied by an original newspaper in which photo (s) were published.
• All entries must be submitted to the National Adjudication Committee not later than February 29, 2026.

Enquiries

Ms. Barbara Lopi, Head of Communication and Public Relations Unit email blopi@sadc.int or Innocent Mbvundula, Communication and Relations Officer (External) email imbvundula@sadc.int or Mr. Peter Mabaka at the SADC Secretariat email pmabaka@sadc.int with a copy to prinfo@sadc.int and telephone +267 395 1863.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the SADC Media Awards Competition