Are you a journalist from Southern Africa who reported on regional issues in 2026? The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has launched the 2027 SADC Media Awards, which recognise the best print, radio, television and photo journalism on regional cooperation and integration. Each category winner receives US$2,500 and each runner-up US$1,000. Entries must reach your country’s National Adjudication Committee by 28 February 2027.
Awards at a Glance
- Organiser: SADC Secretariat (Gaborone, Botswana)
- Categories: Print, Radio, Television and Photojournalism
- Prizes: US$2,500 for first place and US$1,000 for runner-up in each category
- Who can enter: Journalists who are nationals of a SADC Member State
- Work must be published or broadcast: between January and December 2026
- Entry fee: None stated
- Deadline: 28 February 2027
- Winners announced: At the 47th SADC Summit in Zambia
About the SADC Media Awards
SADC’s Council of Ministers created the Media Awards in 1995, and they have run since 1996. They reward journalism that helps people across the region understand SADC’s work and the benefits of regional integration. Judges look for excellence, originality, accuracy, depth of research and impact.
Your story doesn’t have to be about SADC meetings. Any reporting on issues that promote regional integration qualifies, such as infrastructure, trade and the economy, water, energy, agriculture, culture or sport.
Benefits
- US$2,500 cash prize for the regional winner in each category
- US$1,000 cash prize for the runner-up in each category
- Certificate signed by the SADC Chairperson
- Recognition at the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government
- Regional visibility for your work and your media house
Prize money is paid directly to winners. If a winner can’t attend the Summit ceremony, SADC arranges to present the prize in their home country.
Eligibility
- You are a media practitioner and a national of a SADC Member State: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, DR Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia or Zimbabwe.
- Your work was published or broadcast between January and December 2026.
- It appeared through a registered or authorised media house or agency in a SADC Member State, or on that media house’s website.
- It is in English, French, Portuguese or a national indigenous language of the region. Work in an indigenous language needs a transcript in English, French or Portuguese.
- Staff of the SADC Secretariat and people working for institutions contracted by SADC cannot enter.
Category Requirements
| Category | What to submit |
|---|---|
| Print Journalism | A feature or article from a newspaper, magazine, newsletter or website, between 100 and 2,000 words |
| Radio Journalism | A broadcast of 1 to 30 minutes on CD or USB, with a transcript in Word format |
| Television Journalism | A broadcast of 1 to 45 minutes on CD or USB, with a transcript in Word format |
| Photojournalism | One photo, or a spread of up to 20 photos from a single issue, with captions and the original newspaper they appeared in |
Required Documents
- The official SADC Media Award Entry Form, completed with all details typed in
- A passport-sized photograph
- Proof of nationality
- Your full contact details: physical address, phone number and email
- Your entry (cutting, recording or photos) in the format required for your category
- The editor’s endorsement section of the form, signed by your editor
How Judging Works
- A National Adjudication Committee in each Member State screens entries and picks the best one in each category.
- These national winners go to the Regional Adjudication Committee through the SADC Secretariat.
- The Regional Committee chooses the overall winners and runners-up. Its decision is final, and it can choose not to award a prize if entries don’t meet the requirements.
Tips for a Strong Entry
- Choose your strongest 2026 story with a regional angle. Show how the issue connects countries, such as cross-border trade, shared rivers, regional energy projects or migration.
- Show impact. If your story led to a response, policy change or public debate, mention it in the summary on the form.
- Follow the format rules exactly. Check the word count or running time, and include transcripts and original cuttings.
- Get your editor’s signature early. The form needs an editor’s endorsement, so don’t leave it to the last week.
- Contact your national media coordinator early to confirm where and how to deliver your entry in your country.
How to Apply
- Download the competition rules and the entry form from the official SADC announcement page.
- Find your country’s SADC National Media Coordinator on the SADC media coordinators page.
- Complete the entry form (typed), attach your photo, proof of nationality and your work.
- Submit everything to your country’s National Adjudication Committee via the media coordinator by 28 February 2027.
See the official 2027 SADC Media Awards announcement, rules and entry form
Find your SADC National Media Coordinator
For questions, the SADC Secretariat’s Communication and Public Relations Unit can be reached at +267 395 1863 or by email at [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected].
