Young reporters
for the environment

Category – Article

General information:

This category is open to countries that decide to collaborate (school classes/individuals), and exchange information to prepare one joint article that will be submitted to the competition as a joint effort.

Submissions from International Collaborations will be submitted directly to the International Jury through the National Operator in your country. The collaborating countries have to submit one article from both countries. If they win, schools from both countries will be awarded.

Learn more about Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), including Sustainable Lifestyles here and in the  UNEP/UNESCO YouthXchange Training Kit on Responsible Consumption (translated into more than 20 languages).

Sustainable Consumption and Production, including Sustainable Lifestyles, is this year’s recommended Theme for International Collaboration. Participants are invited to select any of the Themes below, all of which fall under SCP. Please note that you must approach each Theme through SCP, addressing both the Consumption and Production sides of the Theme you are reporting on.

– Local Renewable Energy Solutions

– Local Development/Self-Sufficiency

– Local Waste Management Systems/Schemes

– Local Organic Farms

– Community Supported Agriculture/Short Food Chains

– Sustainable Cities/Communities

– Sustainable Housing and Buildings

– Sustainable Leisure and Tourism

– Eco-Schools as a Means of Local Sustainable Development

– Nature Conservation/Biodiversity

– Local Environmental and Cultural Heritage

– Sustainable Mobility / Transport

– Local currency (LETS)

– Volunteering and (NGO) Activism as a Means of Local Sustainability

– Sustainable Use and Management of Water

– Consumer Information and Eco-labels

– Sustainability Communications and Advertising

Participants

The YRE Theme International Collaboration – Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), including Sustainable Lifestyles is open to youth aged 15-18 whether participating through their school or college. It is the participant’s age on the day they submit their entry to the national competition that must be given. This is a group project for a group of students/individuals from school classes. Those submitting a one joint article as a group project must submit in the age category of the oldest member of their group from both countries.

Competition criteria:

Not meeting the international competition’s acceptance criteria results in disqualification.

Submissions must include:

1. The name of the author(s);
2. Their age on the day of submission to the national competition
3. The name of their registered school or group;
4. Their country of residence and registration, which may differ
5. They must also:

• be the correct length, size and format, etc.; see Articles below
• be submitted in written or spoken English
• be focused on a pertinent (real and current) local issue
• concentrate on possible solutions or present existing possible solutions through an expert (different local stakeholders)
• have been disseminated to a local audience
• pictures which are not original and used in the Article must be accredited and have permission for usage.
• the title of the entry should have no more than 20 words (max. 100 characters).
• include a summary of how their submission addresses the topic (one paragraph).

Articles:
Written submissions must not exceed 1,000 words in length and may include illustrations and photographs. The source of all non-original illustrations must be accredited.

A title not exceeding 100 characters (max 20 words) is recommended, for compatibility with Twitter.

Articles must be sent digitally in Microsoft Word or .pdf format with accompanying pictures following the photographic guidelines below.

Original photographs should also be sent separately (see in what format under photographs below).

A maximum of three pictures are allowed with captions of maximum 20 words for each.

All submissions must be accompanied by a note describing dissemination to a local audience (where it was published, exhibited, shown, broadcast). National Operators will forward the article that wins to the international competition. Students may submit more than one type of submission and can work individually or in groups.

Registering gives FEE the right to promote and use submissions accrediting the author. Necessary permission, e.g. for photographing children are the responsibility of the author and must, therefore, be sought.

Judging criteria

Judges may assign a score of 0-5 based on how well the submission meets five further criteria. Points are: Excellent 5 points, Very well 4 points, Well 3 points, Fairly Well 2 points, Qualified 1 point and if it does not qualify 0 points. Participants are encouraged to meet as many of these additional criteria as possible, to improve their work and chances of winning. It is not, however, compulsory to meet these criteria:

1. Composition i.e. form, structure and quality

• The submission has to be well-structured and cover who, what, where, why, when, and how
• The article has to have a beginning, middle and end

2. Fair, balanced and objective reporting

• The piece (article) has to be balanced and fair in terms of representing different sides of an argument prior to offering a suggestion of potential solution
• The quotes used have to be from real, credible, sources
• Scientific or statistical reporting has to be accurate and supported by sources/footnotes
• The photograph is a fair representation of reality, and the subject or object of the photograph has not been manipulated. Editorial alterations to photos (including but not limited to colour, contrast, definition, shadows, highlights, cropping, levelling, etc.) are permissible, as long as these alterations do NOT alter the reality of the subject or object of the photo

3. Informative and well researched

• The submission has to cover relevant historical, economic, social and/or political implications and possible consequences
• It has to make a link to the bigger global picture
• Is the solution presented thoroughly explained, well argued, and justified?
• The use of illustrations, pictures, supporting paragraphs, subtitles, etc., has to be thought through

4. Originality, style and independence

• The piece is original in its scope or style i.e. has the participant picked a challenging topic or created an innovative or moving piece
• Participants have to leave the school grounds i.e. engage in field work and interview people in person as well as on the telephone, not just use or quote online sources

5. Dissemination

• Dissemination through minimum three media outlets/events including internal school channels
• Participants need to state the dissemination (genre of media outlet etc.) that has been done

6. Timing

• Participants can join YRE at any time of the year but submissions to the international competition must be received by 30 April 2016
• It is recommended that the process of the article preparation follow the YRE methodology: investigating, proposing a solution, reporting and disseminating. More information can be found here.
• National competitions are usually held by the end of March
• Countries that cannot run their jury prior to that may submit students’ work to the following year’s international competition
• Submissions can only be entered once  and in one age category
• Late submissions to the international competition will not be accepted