The Guardian International Development Journalism Competition 2013.

Application Deadline: 12 May 2013

Many crucial issues facing the developing world are often overlooked or underrepresented by the media. The Guardian International Development Journalism competition 2013 aims to highlight some of them. We are searching for enthusiastic writers who want to demonstrate their journalistic abilities by examining these issues.

The competition, in partnership with a group of UK-based international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – is now in its sixth year.

The NGOs are The David Rattray Memorial Trust, Farm Africa, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Magic Bus, Malaria Consortium, Marie Stopes International, Practical Action, The Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, UNICEF, WaterAid, Women for Women International and Youth Business International

The challenge is to write a feature of 650 to 1,000 words by Sunday 12 May at 23.59 on an aspect of global poverty that deserves greater media exposure. The 12 best writers will be selected from a longlist of around 40 entrants, all of whom will have their articles published online at guardian.co.uk.

The 12 finalists will be flown to a developing country to research a new assignment. The finalist pieces will then be published in a Guardian newspaper supplement, after the announcement of the winner at an awards ceremony in November 2013.

How to enter the awards

All you need to do is select the theme that you want to write about. Do your research using the suggested resources as a starting point. Then you need to write a 650-1000 word article on your selected theme, and upload it using our online entry form. The entry deadline is 23.59 on Sunday 12 May.

Judging criteria

What the judges will be looking for, particularly in the first round of the competition:

• Clear and concise argument based on the chosen theme
• Supported by factual evidence
• That your piece meets the theme brief
• A piece that “lives” to the reader. Does it feel real? Are the people or situations described vivid and believable to the audience?
• No patronising or sensationalist statements
• Sense that the writer has understood the subject
• Accessible to people who don’t know much about the subject
• Good writing skills, grammatically correct with an absence of jargon
• Readable from a journalistic perspective
• Remember this is not to be an academic essay but an engaging feature

Entry guidance

Additional/support material
Please do not send any additional material with your entry. No pictures supporting documents etc.

The Guardian International Development Journalism Competition Themes

To enter the competition, you need to write a 650-1,000 word feature on one of the 12 themes listed below.

You can interpret the theme in whatever way you think fit, but should not veer off the subject or your entry will not be accepted.

Global hunger: prevention or cure?
Theme sponsored by Farm Africa

Global Youth Unemployment: a ticking timebomb
Theme sponsored by Youth Business International

How can young people growing up in poverty thrive in the adult world?
Theme sponsored by UNICEF

Is empowering women the answer to ending poverty in the developing world?
Theme sponsored by Magic Bus

Poverty and disability: too close for comfort?
Theme sponsored by Leonard Cheshire Disability

Tackling hunger with a red herring? Farm productivity and gender equality
Theme sponsored by Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture

Technology Justice: a rallying cry for this century?
Theme sponsored by Practical Action

The human target: how do you protect human rights in a world that pushes for results?
Theme sponsored by Marie Stopes International

Were the MDGs worth it?
Theme sponsored by WaterAid

What can be done to accelerate rural education standards in developing countries?
Theme sponsored by the David Rattray Memorial Trust

What is the role of China in the global health agenda?
Theme sponsored by Malaria Consortium

Women and armed conflict – sexual violence as a weapon of war
Theme sponsored by Women for Women International

Key dates

• Sunday 12 May at 23.59 – closing date for entries
• Mid May – mid June – judging process
• Early June – longlist announced online
• End of June – shortlist announced online
• Friday 18 July – finalists briefing day
• Mid-August – early September – finalists trip will take place
• Late November – awards ceremony
• Late November – finalist pieces appear in a Guardian supplement

Contact

If you have any questions regarding the competition entry process or themes please contact the competition team through any of the following methods

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Journalism_Comp

Click Here to Enter Now for The Guardian International Development Journalism Competition