Zenith reporting grants contest addresses SDGs-linked stories

01 / 03 / 2020

Zenith magazine encouraged journalists to participate in its contest for “Reporting Grants 2020” which focuses on stories demonstrating a clear connection to one of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The stories can be in Arabic or English.

Zenith magazine launched the stipend program in partnership with Candid Foundation and with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.

The stories will be evaluated in accordance with certain criteria; namely the topic should be urgent, underreported and of importance to a wider audience and the ethics of good journalism must not be violated. Moreover, the jury must be satisfied that candidates can deliver their story.

Additionally, all potential grantees should provide written and audio documentation of their research for the story.

This is not only to verify key elements of the story, but also so that this research material can be used as the basis for a podcast to showcase how journalistic work can be undertaken.

The contest is confined for journalists from 11 countries; Syria, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, and Yemen.

Candidates should have several years of professional experience, a track record in investigative journalism and a proven history of well-researched publications.

Contenders should have to be at least 18 years old.

Zenith said it strongly encourage female journalists to join the contest.

Zenith contest will award 20 stipends in total, each of which is worth 3,500 euros.

Every candidate will need to provide evidence of what they intend to spend the money on. Journalists can apply as individuals or in a collaboration partnership, in which case the lump sum will be split between the two candidates.

Applications are submitted from 16 February until 14 March 2020 and the winner will be announced within a reasonable timeframe.