The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is inviting entries for the MISA John Manyarara Investigative Journalism Awards 2009. The awards seek to recognise excellence in investigative journalism in any form of media in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Two awards will be given:

• The MISA John Manyarara Investigative Journalist of the Year Award, whose winner will receive a cash prize of Euro 4,000.
• The MISA John Manyarara Upcoming Investigative Journalist of the Year Award, whose winner will receive Euro 2,000 in cash and a scholarship in the value of Euro 6,000 to further develop the recipient’s investigative journalism skills.

Another 11 journalists who enter could win a fully sponsored trip to participate in a 3-day training on investigative journalism convened by the Investigative Journalism Workshop (IJW) at the University of the Witwatersrand in partnership with the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ), the London Centre of Investigative Reporting (CIJ), Investigative Reporters and Editors in the US (IRE), and the Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR). The event will offer training workshops and panel discussions by and for investigative reporters from Africa and abroad.

The awards are given for a journalistic story or series of stories broadcast or published between January 1 and December 31 2008 that demonstrates investigative journalism skills and presentation of facts. Judges will be looking for work which demonstrates investigative journalistic skill and methodologies like source building, data searching, as well as depth and insight, is newsworthy, and uncovers facts that someone or some agency may have tried to keep from public scrutiny.

Click here for more information about the award.

Entries should be sent in their original published format or by email (with URL), including details of when and where it was published or broadcast. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt for your entry please make a follow-up inquiry. Entries must be sent by courier, by fax, or by email to the address in the contact section below. Alternatively, it may be delivered to the MISA office in your country.

Click here for entry information.

MISA website on March 23 2009.