Welcome to the Article Category of the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) Bangladesh Competition 2026. This category invites aspiring young journalists to critically investigate and report on the pressing issues of Food Security and climate change in Bangladesh. Participants are encouraged to highlight local environmental challenges, examine their connections to broader global climate dynamics, and present practical, solution-oriented perspectives. Through well-crafted articles, participants should thoughtfully explore the historical, economic, social, and political dimensions of the chosen issue, clearly demonstrating the link between local realities and global phenomena while proposing relevant, feasible, and constructive environmental solutions.

What to Submit

 Participants are encouraged to submit investigative journalism pieces in the form of:

• Newspaper Articles: Traditional news reporting style, focusing on factual accuracy, objectivity, and clear communication of environmental issues and solutions.
• Blog Posts: More informal yet informative pieces, allowing for a personal voice while maintaining journalistic integrity. These can explore specific aspects of food security or climate change in a narrative or analytical style.
• Social Media Articles: Concise and impactful pieces designed for online platforms, utilizing engaging language and visuals (if applicable) to raise awareness and encourage discussion.

Theme Focus: Food Security & Climate Change

Your article should explore the multifaceted relationship between food systems and climate change. Consider the following areas for your investigation:

• Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture: How changing weather patterns, droughts, floods, and rising sea levels affect crop yields, livestock, and fisheries in Bangladesh.
• Sustainable Food Practices: Research and report on innovative farming techniques, traditional knowledge, or community initiatives that promote food security while mitigating climate change.
• Food Waste and Loss: Investigate the causes and consequences of food waste in Bangladesh and propose solutions for more responsible consumption and production.
• Food Supply Chains: Analyze the environmental footprint of food transportation, processing, and distribution, and suggest ways to create more resilient and sustainable supply chains.
• Policy and Advocacy: Examine existing policies related to food security and climate change, and advocate for changes that can lead to a more sustainable future.

Submission Requirements

All article submissions must adhere to the general YRE Bangladesh Competition guidelines, with specific considerations for this category:

• Word Count: Articles should typically be between 500-1000 words. (Please check the main competition guidelines for any specific national word limits).
• Investigative Depth: Your article must demonstrate thorough research, including interviews with local stakeholders, experts, or community members, and reference credible sources.
• Solutions-Oriented: Beyond identifying problems, your article must present practical and constructive solutions to the environmental issues discussed.
• SDG Alignment: Clearly explain how your article relates to one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Language: Submissions must be in English or include a full English translation.
• Originality: All content must be original and not previously published. Proper citation of all sources is mandatory.

Format & Structure

• No more than 1,000 words (after translation into English).
• Must include a title of no more than 140 characters.
• Must be submitted to the National Operator in Microsoft Word format for traditional article or as a link for a blogpost or extended Facebook post if this is how the article has been disseminated.
• Must include 1-3 images (photographs, illustrations, diagrams, etc.), each with captions of no more than 20 words. Sources for all images must be given.
• Must include an introduction, body (supporting paragraphs), and conclusion and answer the questions of who, what, where, why, when, and how.

Honest & Unbiased Reporting

• Facts, statistics, and scientific information must be supported by credible sources.
• Any quotes used must be from real and credible sources.
• Sources used in the article must be cited using footnotes and a ‘References’ list for a traditional article, in the attribution tag for a blog or Facebook post. This includes citing the original author/source of any images (photographs, illustrations, diagrams, etc.) used in the article.
• Remember: Even when citing sources, remember that this is not an academic essay, but a newspaper article. One of its characteristic features is the statements of competent persons, and therefore we recommend that you go to the persons in person or contact them by e-mail or telephone and get information directly from them. It will increase not only the dynamics of the article but also its credibility. Guidance for Social media article citing of sources.

Constructive & Well-Rounded Perspective

• Articles should be balanced and fair in terms of representing different sides of an argument before suggesting possible solutions.
• Article should explore the historical, economic, social, and/or political implications of the chosen topic through an environmental lens.
• The article should show the link between local and global events, issues, and/or phenomena.
• The article should include relevant, feasible, and constructive solutions to environmental issues presented in the article.

Originality & Independence

• The article is original in content and/or scope. The author has picked a challenging and/or creative topic or has approached a topic in a different and/or creative way.
• The participant has engaged in fieldwork and conducted research and interviews (either in-person or over the phone) outside of their school grounds.

How to Get Started

1. Choose a Topic: Select a specific aspect of Food Security & Climate Change that resonates with you and is relevant to your local community.
2. Research: Conduct in-depth research, gather data, and interview relevant individuals.
3. Draft Your Article: Structure your article with a compelling introduction, well-supported arguments, and a strong conclusion that highlights solutions.
4. Review and Edit: Ensure your article is clear, concise, grammatically correct, and adheres to all submission requirements.

***NOTES

• Use of any form of AI will not be accepted in this category. Points should be deducted should the use of AI be detected.
• The quality of the article should not be lessened if a young person has chosen to disseminate their article as a blog or extended Facebook post.