Editorial Policy

ZAM’s Mission

Building a world beyond them and us.

Vision

To connect, publicise and celebrate a new generation of African changemakers in investigative journalism, photography, writing, arts and thought leadership.

Objectives

  • ZAM serves as a platform to introduce the work of African creatives to international audiences.
  • ZAM introduces new perspectives and thinking in African countries into public discourse for global impact.
  • ZAM is an incubator space and visitor centre to promote new ideas, creative expression and collaborative research.
  • ZAM builds an international alliance for shared impact.
  • Editorial principles

Autonomy

ZAM adheres to the principles of independent journalism. We approach issues with an open mind and boundless curiosity, exempted from commercial and institutional agendas, and with a respect for fairness and integrity.

Balance

Equal representation of gender, sexual and regional diversity is key to our editorial policy.

Inclusion

We focus on the work of African creatives. Through publication in our multimedia channels, ZAM breaks the dividing lines that exclude an African information flow from the general offer.

Agency

Our emphasis is on the ability of people to design their own future and fight inequality, the abuse of power and other injustices. In our view, these struggles have an impact that far exceeds the local or regional interest.

Multiplicity

ZAM is averse to cliché and stereotyping. We are inspired by Chimananda Ngozi Adichie's plea for a diversity of approaches to 'Africa' to avoid the dangers of a 'single story'. ZAM rejects generalisations like 'the doomed continent' or 'Africa rising’.

Non-racialism

The legacy of Nelson Mandela is strongly represented in ZAM's DNA. Through numerous productions, our platform gives shape to critical reflection on the meaning of the struggles against apartheid and colonialism. ZAM is aware of the urgency involved in striving for a truly non-racial and non-sexist society. We need to do this within a context of anti-racism, decolonisation and equal rights for LGBTIQ people.

Editorial Practices

Submissions

ZAM does not generally accept unsolicited submissions. That said, if you have an idea for a story that you feel is a good fit for ZAM’s Editorial Policy please send a short summary of no more than ten lines to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Interested contributors are encouraged to familiarise themselves with content on our website.

Editorial Process

The process of selection, interaction with authors, editing and publishing is led by the Editor-in-Chief in close co-operation with the in-house Editorial team. Stories and themes are processed through the team's research, input by the network of contributors and presented pitches. ZAM adopts hands on approaching engaging authors with direct feedback and editorial input.

ZAM does not work with permanent country correspondents.

Crossmedia

Our stories have many outlets: online and print, through our social media channels, through syndication of stories to other media houses, but also through Studio ZAM events, conversations and the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture. Our team is constantly exploring new avenues for publishing and distrubting content, with a view to promoting interaction between authors, editors and readership.

Style

Accessibility of language for wider, interested audiences is crucial. Therefore, political, artistic, developmental, activist and other jargon should be avoided as much as possible.

ZAM's house style is based on the Oxford English Style Guide.

Contributor's rights & duties

Contributors are protected against unfair treatment, careless editing and unwanted interference by third parties, individuals or organisations. We expect contributors to have productions that are thoughtful, original, well-researched, intellectually challenging, uncompromising through freedom from plagiarism or deception, and free from any commercial or political interference.

Fact checking

ZAM subscribes to the GIJN list of protocols for fact checking.

Remunerations

As a policy, ZAM pays for commissioned content. We are a non-profit organisation and the available editorial budget is modest.

Republishing Guidelines

Please contact the Editor for permission to republish any content on the ZAM website.