An Initiative by WildAid and Gabon's Ministry of Communication and Media
The Gabon Environmental Journalism Awards is an initiative by WildAid and Gabon's Ministry of Communication and Media to encourage, motivate, and celebrate journalists who use the power of storytelling to highlight the urgency of protecting Gabon’s extraordinary wildlife, forests, and ecosystems.
Objective
The main objective of the Awards is to promote excellence in environmental reporting, recognizing journalists who explore Gabon’s environmental challenges and conservation efforts with depth, creativity, and impact.
Through this initiative, WildAid aims to amplify the voices of conservation, promote a culture of environmental responsibility, and inspire citizens and decision-makers alike to act for a sustainable future.
Award Categories
The Awards will feature six categories:
-
Best marine or coastal conservation story (print/online/TV/radio)
-
Best forestry and/or wildlife conservation story (print/online/TV/radio)
-
Best environmental investigation story (print/online/TV/radio)
-
Best TV story on an environmental topic
-
Best radio story on a environmental topic
-
Environmental photo of the year
Prizes and Ceremony
Six prizes will be awarded to the best environmental stories, accompanied by a trophy and cash prize of 450,000 XAF per category winner.
Winners will be selected by a mixed jury of Gabonese and international experts in environmental journalism.
The award ceremony will take place in June 2026, bringing together journalists, conservationists, and decision-makers.
Eligibility
-
Open to Gabonese journalists and media professionals.
-
Eligible entries must have been published or broadcast between April 30, 2025, and May 1, 2026.
-
An entry must be accompanied by a completed application form.
-
Each entry must clearly indicate its category and media type.
-
Entries must be original works by the author.
-
For print/online entries: include links or scanned copies.
-
For TV/radio entries: include a script and recording link.
-
For entries in languages other than French or English, a translation must be provided.
-
Submissions (entry form + links or copies of the media publication) should be submitted to gabonawards@wildaid.org before the May 1, 2026 deadline.
Judging Process
Interested journalists are invited to submit their work, published or broadcast between April 30, 2025 and May 1, 2026, along with the completed application form available below, to gabonawards@wildaid.org. Only complete submissions will be considered.
A panel of experienced professionals from the media and conservation sectors will review all entries.
Submissions will be evaluated according to the following criteria (each scored from 1 to 10):
-
Originality – A new subject, approach, or angle.
-
Accuracy and Research – Quality of documentation, factual balance, and reliability of sources.
-
Impact – Reach of the story, public awareness generated, or influence on debate or policy.
-
Quality of Presentation – Clarity of writing, visual strength, and overall multimedia quality.
The judging process will be transparent and merit-based, ensuring equal opportunity for all participants.A jury of experienced professionals from the media and conservation sectors will review all entries.
Purpose and Vision
By recognizing outstanding work in environmental reporting, the Gabon Environmental Journalism Awards seek to:
-
Value and support journalists who advance public understanding of environmental issues.
-
Inspire behavioral change through powerful, evidence-based storytelling.
-
Foster a strong network of environmental communicators shaping Gabon’s sustainable future.
The awards were funded by the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.