Deadline extended: Journalists can enter a US$10,000 story contest for best coverage of infectious diseases

Journalists from the United States, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa can win international reporting trips worth up to $10,000 for submitting the best stories on infectious diseases.

Stories can address diseases including AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. These three diseases alone are the leading causes of death in low- and middle-income countries. They claim nearly 4 million lives every year and cost billions of dollars in lost productivity. The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is launching the story contest to spur discussion about how the global community deals with these critical health issues.

Reports published or broadcast between May 20 and Sept. 1, 2013, will qualify. The deadline for submission is Sept. 1, 2013. Along with the story submission, participants must include a 300-word proposal for an international reporting trip to expand their coverage of infectious diseases.

The International Center for Journalists will select three winners, one from each region. An editor or manager at each of the selected news organizations will also earn a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend ICFJ’s 2013 Awards Dinner on Nov. 7, 2013. The Africa contest is administered in partnership with the African Health Journalists Association.
Winners will be notified on Oct. 1, 2013.
Stories must be in English or French and cover diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Possible topics include:

• Government policies and programs that address infectious diseases
• Effectiveness of donor-funded infectious-diseases programs
• The state of funding for the delivery, treatment and research of infectious diseases

Stories must be well-researched and well-written or presented. We will give special preference to the following:

• Multimedia feature articles or documentaries
• Investigative reports or explanatory stories
• Reports that use data, mapping and other digital tools to engage audiences. Examples: Facebook chats, Twitter feeds, or text messaging that solicits citizen reports on outbreaks and treatment of infectious disease

Journalists working in each region for print, broadcast or online media qualify. The contest also is open to freelance journalists, whose stories are published or broadcast by Sept. 1, 2013.
Once you submit your story please tweet about it using the hashtag #icfjhealth. Don’t forget to include a 300-word proposal for an overseas reporting trip with your story submission.
For more details and to submit a story:

• Contest guidelines: English | French
• Submit stories: English | French
• Contact: icfjhealth@icfj.org