Courage in Journalism Award

Celebrating Bravery in the Face of Risk

In a world where journalism can come at great personal cost, the Courage in Journalism Award stands as a tribute to those who continue to tell difficult truths — even when it puts their lives, careers, or freedoms on the line.

Established in 2016 by the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF), the award honours individual journalists and media organizations across Africa who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and resilience in the face of harassment, intimidation, arrest, violence, or systemic censorship.

This recognition is not given lightly. It celebrates journalistic courage in its truest form — choosing to report in hostile environments, resisting political pressure, exposing injustice, and remaining steadfast in ethical reporting, even when the risks are profound.

About the Award

The Courage in Journalism Award was conceived as a way to highlight the sacrifices many journalists make daily, especially in contexts where freedom of expression is under threat. In 2020, the award was officially integrated into the Bagauda Kaltho Media Lecture Series, a commemorative platform dedicated to honouring the legacy of the late Nigerian investigative journalist James Bagauda Kaltho, who disappeared under suspicious circumstances in 1996 during Nigeria’s military dictatorship.

By merging the award with the lecture series, AMDF ensured that courage and commitment to ethical journalism remained at the heart of its annual media programming — celebrating not just excellence in reporting, but the personal strength it often demands.

Award Categories

The Courage in Journalism Award is presented in two categories:

• Individual Journalist Category:
  Awarded to a journalist who has shown consistent bravery in the course of their reporting. This includes enduring threats, arrest, surveillance, censorship, or other forms of intimidation.
• Media Organization Category:
  Introduced in 2020, this category honours media outlets that continue to operate under oppressive conditions or have supported courageous journalism and public-interest reporting, often at significant institutional risk.

Selection Process

The Courage in Journalism Award is not open to public nominations or applications. Instead, recipients are internally selected by the AMDF Board, which monitors events and developments within the media landscape across Africa. The Board carefully considers credible reports, verified incidents, and documented cases of journalists or media organizations exhibiting exceptional courage in the line of duty.

This non-contested approach ensures the award remains purely merit-based, free from campaigning or influence, and grounded in real acts of journalistic bravery.

Objectives of the Award

• To recognize and honour journalists and media outlets who have demonstrated bravery in the pursuit of truth.
• To amplify the voices of journalists operating in dangerous or repressive environments.
• To inspire a new generation of media professionals committed to truth, ethics, and public accountability.
• To highlight the ongoing threats facing journalism in Africa and advocate for greater protection of press freedom.

Past Recipients of the Courage in Journalism Award (2016–2024)