African storytelling award to honour legacy of campaigner and journalist Michael Elliott

Michael Elliott had not one but two distinguished careers.聽

As a journalist, he became editor of both TIME International and Newsweek International. As a campaigner and advocate, he led the ONE organisation for five years.

In both careers, he shone a light on people and their struggles for rights and equal opportunities. He was collaborative and encouraged everyone国产视频檚 efforts to address and alleviate poverty.

Michael died in July 国产视频� but his legacy will be recognised in a new journalism prize. The Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling will advance the work of an emerging journalist who strives to strengthen people国产视频檚 voices and improve their wellbeing.

The award has been launched by聽the Elliott family, ONE and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).

As the CEO of ONE, Michael lobbied to improve the lives of all Africans.聽A longtime board member of ICFJ, he also championed great journalism as a tool for empowerment.

Two days before he died,聽he gave a speech聽at a celebration of his work in Washington, DC. Talking about his hugely successful career, he said: 国产视频淭hrough it all, what国产视频檚 always inspired me is the resilience of ordinary people.

国产视频淔rom children carrying water for hours on the roads of Malawi to women coming in from their villages to markets in San Cristobal de las Casas or LiJiang or Elmina, to sell a few ears of corn or bunches of handcrafts.国产视频�

Gordon Brown, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, said: 国产视频淢ichael started as a prize-winning journlaist 国产视频� but as he wrote he saw the horror of poverty round the world and joined ONE as director because he was determined to do something about it.国产视频�

In his five years leading ONE, the organisation国产视频檚 membership grew from two million to more than seven million, of which 2.8 million are in Africa.

Among his many honours, he was named as one of the world国产视频檚聽25 inspiring CEOs by GoodNet in 2015.

The ICJF said: 国产视频淢ichael Elliott国产视频檚 life was a testament to the power of storytelling to bear witness to and improve the human condition.

国产视频淲e will issue a call for nominations and carefully vet applications, looking for a demonstrated commitment to social and development issues through quality storytelling. A distinguished jury will select the winner.

国产视频淎s part of the award, the winner will spend time in US newsrooms to learn new skills and receive mentorship from ICFJ, helping to catalyse additional reporting that engages and empowers Africans.国产视频�

Donate to the Michael Elliott聽Award for Excellence in African Storytelling