ARIJ Awards for Arab Investigative Journalism

What are the judging criteria

The judging panel makes its decisions based on the following ten criteria:

• Originality and Significance
• Clarity of the Hypothesis
• Research and Sources
• Risk Assessment
• Structure and Storytelling
• Data Presentation and Visual Processing
• Law and Ethics
• Language Use
• Accuracy, Balance, Clarity
• Additional Effort

How can I Participate

The competition is open to all journalists who have published or broadcast their investigations in Arabic on any platform. All types of written, digital, audio/radio, and television formats are welcomed, in all forms, templates, and durations.

Can you send me an example of a submission to the competition to help me prepare my application

You can browse the winning investigations from the 2023 edition. Here.

What work is eligible to participate in the competition

The investigations submitted for the competition must be in Arabic and published or broadcast between September 5, 2023, and August 31, 2024. All types of written, digital, audio/radio, and television formats are welcomed, in all forms, templates, and durations.

What is the deadline for entering the competition

The deadline for submitting applications is August 31, 2024.

Do you accept participation with investigative reports in a language other than Arabic

No, only investigative reports in Arabic are eligible to participate in the competition.

How many awards are there and what are they

For 2024, there are three awards :

• Best Arab Investigative Report – Gold Award
• Best Arab Investigative Report – Silver Award
• Best Arab Investigative Report – Bronze Award

Who will judge the competition

The judging panel consists of the chairperson and committee members, who are experts among Arab journalists and media professionals with experience, competence, professionalism, and integrity.

How is the process of selecting investigations in the first stage carried out

The screening committee reviews all the submitted investigations. Any investigation that does not meet the competition's criteria is considered ineligible and is not included in the final list sent to the judging panel. The screening committee's evaluation is also based on the same criteria used by the judging panel, which are the same standards that ARIJ follows in its methodology.

What is the role of the judging panel

After the first stage, the judging panel reviews all the investigations that have been recommended by the screening committee. The panel selects the winning investigations based on the criteria established in ARIJ's methodology. The judging panel is entirely independent, and ARIJ does not intervene in its work or choices. The panel has full discretion in selecting the three winning investigations, those receiving special mentions, or whether more than one investigation will share the award. Once the winning investigations are chosen, the panel shares the results with ARIJ's management, who will then prepare for the announcement at the closing ceremony of the ARIJ annual forum.

Is there a maximum number of stories I can nominate within the competition categories

Each journalist is allowed to participate with only one investigation. All types of written, digital, audio/radio, and television formats are welcome, in all forms, templates, and durations.

Does the award provide a cash prize

No, but the top ten winners are invited to participate in the ARIJ annual forum in person, whenever possible. This forum is a training and networking event for both Arab and international journalists. The award also provides moral recognition, offering journalists broad future networking opportunities at the Arab and international levels.

If I have any other inquiries about the ARIJ Award, who can I contact

You can email info@arij.net for answers to all your inquiries.

Submission Requirements

• The award is open to all forms of investigative reports: written, television, audio, digital, and interactive.
• Investigations published or broadcast between September 5, 2023, and August 31, 2024, are eligible.
• The award is only open to investigations in Arabic, produced by Arab journalists, regardless of their place of residence.
• Each journalist can participate with only one investigation .

Selection Criteria

• According to the award rules, the editorial board handles the screening process, followed by a judging panel of five members who are experts among Arab journalists. The panel will evaluate the competing investigations and determine the list of the top ten competing investigations, which will be announced on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
• The winners will be announced at the ARIJ Annual Awards Ceremony on December 8, 2024.

The judging panel makes its decisions based on the ten criteria listed below:

• Originality and Significance
• Clarity of the Hypothesis
• Research and Sources
• Risk Assessment
• Structure and Storytelling
• Data Presentation and Visual Processing
• Law and Ethics
• Language Use
• Accuracy, Balance, Clarity
• Additional Effort