AfricTivistes will be awarding the AfricTivistes Media & Democracy Prize on the sidelines of the Seminar on Information and Democracy to be held in Dakar on 24th and 25th October 2023. This award aims to acknowledge  the media that has most distinguished itself in the defence and promotion of democratic principles in Senegal.

AfricTivistes is organising the Seminar on Information and Democracy in partnership with Forum on information and democracy  in a bid to strengthen democracy through digital innovation and the quality of information. During the two-day seminar, devoted to dialogue and exchanges between the various players involved in promoting democracy in Senegal, one media organisation will receive the AfricTivistes Media & Democracy Prize.

This AfricTivistes award celebrates the commitment of Senegalese media to the protection and promotion of democratic principles, while raising public awareness of the importance of a free and independent press in a democracy. It also seeks  to celebrate the media’s commitment to democracy, transparency and journalistic integrity.

Why now?

Senegal is recognised as a model of democracy in West Africa, characterised by free and fair elections, a relatively free press and an active civil society. However, despite these achievements, the Senegalese media face constant challenges in their mission to defend and promote democracy. In recent years, Senegal has been sending out some very alarming and, for many observers, very surprising signs. Once a beacon for West African democracy, fundamental freedoms are increasingly under threat.

Political opponents are imprisoned or simply forced into exile. Freedom to demonstrate is increasingly controlled or even confiscated. Private media outlets have their signals restricted to prevent them from broadcasting. State media censor all forms of opposition demonstrations. Pro-democracy activists go into exile to enjoy their freedom of speech, while others languish in prison. The public is still waiting to hear about the actions that will be taken on the audit reports that have pointed at public authorities’ mismanagement of COVID-19 funds. The list goes on…  and this gloomy picture is partly the result of the last 20 years..

Recent events, symbolic of a democratic crisis, have resulted in nothing less than a democratic setback in terms of freedoms, independence of the judiciary, transparency and respect for the rule of law. Press freedom has never been so threatened in Senegal.

What does it take to be a winner?

A jury panel comprising renowned media professionals and experts will choose the AfricTivistes Media & Democracy Prize recipient that  must meet the following criteria: