ZAM’s Mission
To visualize and give form to a new, future relationship between Africa and the West. ZAM is imagining a world with no ‘them’ and ‘us’.
Vision
To connect, publicise and celebrate a new generation of African future makers 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.
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 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 a hands on approach when engaging authors with direct feedback and editorial input.
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.
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.
