The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has invited story pitches from Nigerian journalists from all genres of the media with interest in investigating the intersection between COVID-19, access to information and misinformation, to submit story pitches for consideration.
Deadline for submission of pitches is Saturday, 30 January 2021 | 11:59 pm (WAT).
The call announced on Friday is part of the organisation’s ‘Free to share’ initiative which is geared at broadening the scope of freedom of expression through engagements on media ethics and accountability journalism.
The centre explained that the pilot of the project is implemented in partnership with Free Press Unlimited (FPU) as part of the ‘COVID-19 response in Africa: Together for reliable information project’, funded by the European Union (EU).
The published data-driven, human interest investigative stories will support the media to better provide access to information that informs, educates, and debunks misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic and its multifaceted impact on lives and livelihoods.
Selected reporters would be trained virtually towards delivering the stories. Chosen reporters must attend the training fully and be available for mentorship.
WSCIJ last year launched the COVID-19 Reality Check project which is an initiative that examines government interventions and promises in relation to the realities on the ground in terms of social welfare, water and sanitation, economics, security, food availability and accessibility, education, electric power supply, and more.
The centre and its partner, the MacArthur Foundation, is supporting reporters from various media organisations to better report such stories and point out gaps.
