CALL FOR ZANEC 2026 EDUCATION AND SKILLS SECTOR MEDIA AWARDS

The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) is an umbrella body of non-state actors in the education and skills sector. ZANEC’s work is divided into five thematic committees that is; Early Childhood and Development, Basic Education, Skills and Tertiary, Youth and Adult Literacy Education and Gender and Equity. ZANEC recognises that quality Education is a fundamental human right; as such, we would like to recognize journalists and media practitioners who have contributed immensely to the promotion of this fundamental human right in 2026. ZANEC is therefore, calling for entries for the 2026 ZANEC Education Media Awards.

BACKGROUND TO THE AWARDS

Since 2014, ZANEC has hosted media awards in the education and skills sector. The objective of these awards is to promote reporting on the Education and Skills Sector by raising public awareness, understanding, participation and the need for the provision of quality education in the country.

ZANEC receives entries based on the following Education Sub Sectors:

1.Skills and Tertiary Education - with a bias to Academic Freedom and quality of education in Higher Institutions of Learning.

2.Youth and Adult Literacy Education (YALE).

3.Gender and Equity-Promotion of gender and inclusion in the education sector.

The article, programme, documentary or video must demonstrate the author or producer’s understanding of the Education and Skills Sector at the barest minimum. The articles must also show well-researched work compiled by the author.  Further, the key expectations in the selection process will also include accurate and in-depth reporting; data and evidence-based reporting; contextual analysis; highlighting success stories and best practices; interviewing key stakeholders; raising awareness and promoting dialogue; and ethical reporting. Education articles specifically covering ZANEC positions will have an added advantage.

ELIGIBILITY

The awards are open to

    i. Published and broadcasted works in print, radio, television or online media.

   ii. Eligibility is limited to journalists who are Zambian Nationals.

 iii.The competition is only open to individual journalists and not media institutions.

  iv. The entries shall be works published/broadcast between 1^st September 2025 and 31^st August 2026.

LANGUAGES

All works entered for the competition shall be in English.

CATEGORIES

Entries shall consist of the following:

• Print Journalism: Feature articles or stories published in mainstream newspapers, magazines, journals or newsletters.
• Radio Journalism: Documentaries or discussion programmes.
• Television Journalism: Documentaries or discussion programmes.
• Online/news media: Feature articles or stories published on online media.

ADJUDICATION AND AWARDS

The selection of winners will be done by an adjudication panel identified by the ZANEC Secretariat with expertise in media and media development. The winners will get a monetary award, a trophy and a certificate.

All entries should have proof of being published in the categories being entered, with a letter from the media institutions or preferably signed by the head of the media institution where it was published. Further, proof of publishing or broadcast must include a News Sig tune and voice of the newscaster saying Our staffer ….(name) has more in this story”.

Please save entries of your articles, documentaries, programmes, audios and videos in formats that do not expire. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified.

Also ensure that all submitted documents are clear and properly scanned.

For newspaper articles, provide both of the following:

1.   A typed or scanned PDF version of the article's content (the script).

2.   An extract or cutting from the actual newspaper page where the article was published, as evidence of publication.

Applicants may submit only one entry per category.

RESPECT FOR COPYRIGHTS

All entries submitted must be original and in conformity with copyright requirements and must have been published or broadcast between 1^st September 2025 and 31^st  August 2026.

DEADLINE

• All submissions should be made to ZANEC by Friday, 16^th October, 2026.

Please note that failure to adhere to the above instructions and Terms of Reference will result in the submission being deemed invalid.

• Further information on ZANEC can be obtained from:
• Website: www.zanec.org.zm
• Facebook www.facebook.com/Zambia – National- Education -Coalition
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zambia-national-education-coalition/

All submissions are to be made to:

The Executive Director,

Zambia National Education Coalition,

125/90A Mufufuma Street, Jesmondine, Lusaka

P.O. Box 30774, Lusaka-Zambia,

Email: zanecmediaawards@gmail.com