Wan-Ifra calls for nominations for new Women in News Editorial Leadership Award

© Wan-Ifra.

This award recognises an exemplary contribution of an editor to her newsroom and under her leadership, the contribution of her newspaper to society. One outstanding editor from sub-Saharan Africa and one from Middle East and North Africa will be named laureates in 2018.

Uncompromising editorial integrity

The Women in News Editorial Leadership Award will be awarded to two outstanding woman editors who are first amongst their peers in inspiring and paving the way forward for the next generation of leaders. The winners will possess a proven track record of success within her newsroom, have demonstrated uncompromising editorial integrity throughout her career, and have a strong commitment to the principles of press freedom and its power to promote democracy and good governance.

In 2017, the award was given to Karima Kamal, columnist and contributing editor for Al Masry Al Youm from Egypt and Kenyan journalist Pamella Sittoni, editor of the International Desk for the Nation Media Group and managing editor for The East African.

“This award is a strong confirmation that the world is taking notice of the important contribution that women leaders in media houses are making to the development of their countries, regions and the world. I'm confident that it will inspire other women journalists, particularly the younger ones, to aim for the top through diligence," said Sittoni.

On being named a winner, Kamal said: "I am very pleased to have received the Award as I feel it is the crown of my professional journey. The Award supports those who defend the freedom of the press and is also a confirmation of the importance of promoting the presence of women equally and fairly within all strata of media.”

Award recipients will be honoured during Wan-Ifra World News Media Congress

The 2018 recipients of the Women in News Leadership Award will be honoured during the Wan-Ifra World News Media Congress in Estoril, Cascais, Portugal, 6-8 June 2018. The winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to attend the World News Media Congress 2018, the premier global annual meeting of the world’s press.

Eligibility and deadline for nominations

The Women in News Editorial Leadership Award is awarded each year to one outstanding woman editor in the sub-Saharan Africa region and in the Middle East and North Africa region (Mena) respectively. Laureates of the Award are first amongst their peers in inspiring and paving the way forward for the next generation of leaders. The Award recognises an exemplary contribution of an Editor to her newsroom, and under her leadership, the contribution of her newspaper to society.

Eligible nominees in 2018 must:

• Be based in the sub-Saharan region of Africa or the Middle East and North African region.
• Hold a senior editorial role as of 1 January 2018.
• Work in a news media role (newspapers, magazines and digital-only).
• The media house can be any size from across the regions.

Anyone is free to nominate a potential candidate from their markets or indeed from other markets. However, it is strongly recommended that nominations be made by superiors, peers or colleagues in order to maintain the integrity of the nominations. Deadline for nominations is 8 April 2018. For more information contact: gro.swenninemow@ofni or click here.