YRE Criteria
How to participate
Schools can participate by filling in and sending the FEE programmes application form to Nature Trust (Malta). Any number of students can participate as long as the school is registered. Students can submit more than one project and can work either individually or in groups.
Programme criteria
The programme has two levels of activity. At the local level the students investigate an environmental problem and report it to the local community via their chosen media (local press, radio, television, conference or exhibition). At the international level the students may cooperate with young reporters from other countries by using the internet to share information and produce joint articles. Every YRE project must fulfill three objectives:
1) Investigate a local environmental issue
2) Produce a journalistic piece (such as an article, photo, or radio report, etc)
3) Focus on a local audience
The article entries must not exceed 1000 words, and can include photos to help illustrate the arguments. The photo entries (a single photo or a series of 3-5 photos) must be accompanied by a title and a short caption (not longer that 100 words) to explain the link to sustainable issues. The video must be a maximum of 3 minutes for reportage and 1 minute for campaign videos – and compatible with YouTube.
Calendar
– Projects may be started at any time of the year.
– Projects for competition have to be submitted by the 31st March 2025
– The local jury will select the national winners by the end of April 2025.
– International winners will be known in June 2025.
A copy of the general criteria can be downloaded from here.
Necessary criteria - Photos
Environmental Campaign Photo Checklist
Before you submit your single reportage photo, make sure
you’re not missing anything!
1. Is your photo in .JPG or .PNG format?
2. Does it have a title?
3. If you have a description (not required, completely optional), does your description
explain the environmental connection of your photo?
4. Is it a good quality and artistic photo?
5. If you edited or photoshopped your photo, is the reality of the subject still the same?
(AI is allowed in this category)
6. If you used any facts or statistics in your description, did you cite your sources in a
‘References’ list?
7. Does your photo address the historical, economic, social, and/or political
implications of your topic through an environmental lens?
8. Does your photo show a link between local and global issues or events?
9. If your photo shows an environmental problem, do you share realistic solutions for it
in your description?
10. Did you take your photo in a creative way that offers a new perspective on a certain
topic?
11. Did you do any research or leave your school to take the photo?
12. Did you share your photo:
a) Through your own social media channels?
b) At your school?
c) With your National Operator?
d) With your local or national newspapers, radio stations or TV channels?
13. If you shared your photo, do you have evidence of this to give to your National
Operator?
One Take Photo Checklist
Before you submit your single reportage photo, make sure
you’re not missing anything!
1. Is your photo in .JPG or .PNG format?
2. Does it have a title?
3. Does it have a description of 120 words OR a description of 100 words with a
caption of 20 words? (Make sure you don’t have too much text!)
4. Does your description explain the environmental connection of your photo?
5. Is it a good quality and artistic photo? (Make sure you’ve cropped it, straightened it and
made any other SMALL changes so that it looks the best!)
6. Is your photography a truthful representation of reality? (Remember you shouldn’t
manipulate or change the subject or scene.)
7. If you used any facts or statistics in your description, did you cite your sources in a
‘References’ list?
8. Does your photo address the historical, economic, social, and/or political
implications of your topic through an environmental lens?
9. Does your photo show a link between local and global issues or events?
10. If your photo shows an environmental problem, do you share realistic solutions for
it in your description?
11. Did you take your photo in a creative way that offers a new perspective on a certain
topic?
12. Did you do any research or leave your school to take the photo?
13. Did you share your photo:
a) Through your own social media channels?
b) At your school?
c) With your National Operator?
d) With your local or national newspapers, radio stations or TV channels?
14. If you shared your photo, do you have evidence of this to give to your National
Operator?
Photo Story Checklist
Before you submit your single reportage photo, make sure
you’re not missing anything!
1. Have you selected 3-5 photos in .JPG or .PNG format?
2. Do you have a title?
3. Do you have a description of 100 words? Does each photo have a caption of 20 words?
4. Does your description explain the environmental connection of your photo?
5. Are your photos of good quality? (Make sure you’ve cropped, straightened and
made any other SMALL changes so that they looks the best!)
6. Are your photos truthful representation of reality?
7. If you used any facts or statistics in your description, did you cite your sources in a
‘References’ list?
8. Does your photo story address the historical, economic, social, and/or political
implications of your topic through an environmental lens?
9. Does your photo show a link between local and global issues or events?
10. If your photo story shows an environmental problem, do you share realistic solutions for
it in your description?
11. Did you take your photo story in a creative way that offers a new perspective on a certain
topic? (Remember that each photo should be unique and add something new to the story)
12. Did you do any research or leave your school to take the photos?
13. Did you share your photo story:
a) Through your own social media channels?
b) At your school?
c) With your National Operator?
d) With your local or national newspapers, radio stations or TV channels?
14. If you shared your photos, do you have evidence of this to give to your National
Operator?
If you answered ‘YES’ to all the questions, then you’re ready to submit your work to
the YRE Competition!
Environmental Campaign Video Checklist
Before you submit your environmental campaign video,
make sure you’re not missing anything!
1. Is your video under 1 minute long? Is it filmed in portrait?
2. Does it have a title?
3. Is it artistically and technically well done?
4. Did you use a promotional campaign or public service announcement style for your
video?
5. If you used any facts or statistics in your video, did you cite your sources in a credit
roll or a separate a ‘References’ list?
6. AI is allowed in this category - but stick to your creativity!
7. Does your video address the historical, economic, social, and/or political implications
of your topic through an environmental lens?
8. Does your video show a link between local and global issues or events?
9. Does your video show solutions to an environmental problem or help raise
awareness about an environmental issue?
10. Did you choose an original or creative topic for your video?
11. Did you share your video:
a) Through your own social media channels?
b) At your school?
c) With your National Operator?
d) With your local or national newspapers, radio stations or TV channels?
13. If you shared your video, do you have evidence of this to give to your National
Operator?
Video Reportage Checklist
Before you submit your video reportage, make sure you’re
not missing anything!
1. Is your video under 3 minutes long? Is it filmed in landscape?
2. Does it have a title?
3. Is it artistically and technically well done?
4. Does your video have a structure, for example, an introduction and conclusion?
5. Is your video a truthful representation of reality?
6. If you used any facts or statistics in your video, did you cite your sources in a credit
roll or a separate a ‘References’ list?
7. Did you create at least 70% of the video content on your own?
8. Does your video address the historical, economic, social, and/or political implications
of your topic through an environmental lens?
9. Does your video show a link between local and global issues or events?
10. If your video shows an environmental problem, do you also share realistic solutions
for it?
11. Did you choose an original or creative topic for your video?
12. Did you do research, conduct interviews and leave your school to make the video?
13. Did you share your video:
a) Through your own social media channels?
b) At your school?
c) With your National Operator?
d) With your local or national newspapers, radio stations or TV channels?
14. If you shared your video, do you have evidence of this to give to your National
Operator?
If you answered ‘YES’ to all the questions, then you’re ready to submit your work to
the YRE Competition!
Podcast Assessment Criteria
Description: Podcasts are like mini documentaries and could take the form of audio or audio/ video. They are based on news, events, history, facts etc., and use elements of direct observation, research, interviews, and documentation. For the International Competition, only a 5-minute segment of the full podcast will be assessed by the International Jury.
Format & Structure
- Podcast must have a title of no more than 140 characters.
- Link to the full podcast alongside a mention of the 5-minute segment timestamp selected to be submitted to the International Competition
- Must be technically of good quality. This includes sound quality.
- Recommended that the 5-minute selected segment of the podcast is succinct and direct. Highlighting the focus and solutions posed in the full podcast.
- Podcast have various formats. They can firstly have 4 types of layout: solo podcasts, multi-host podcast, interview podcast or narrative podcast. Secondly, they can either be an audio-only podcast or visual podcast.
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 / Resources used in the podcast must be cited in submission entry.
- It is recommended that approximately 70% of the final podcast segment should be made up of students’ own original voice recording and audio. If additional external audio is used (music, sounds effects, soundbites), the original author or source must be cited in the ‘References’ list in submission entry.
- The podcast is a fair and truthful representation of reality, and the sound or recording has not been edited.
Constructive & Well-Rounded Perspective
- Podcast segment should address the historical, economic, social, and/or political implications of the chosen topic through an environmental lens.
- Podcast segment should show the link between local and global events, issues, and/or phenomena.
- 5-min podcast segment should identify relevant and feasible solutions to the environmental issue(s) depicted full podcast.
Originality & Independence
- The podcast is original in subject and/or scope. The student has picked a challenging and/or creative topic or has depicted 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.
Dissemination
A total of 5 points may be awarded for dissemination through the following channels:
- Personal Sphere = 1 Point
- School Community = 1 Point
- National Operator Organization = 1 Point
- National Media (Newspaper, TV, radio) = 2 Points
Evidence of dissemination and Reference List must be submitted alongside the podcast entry on Exposure.
NOTES
2024/2025: All national winning podcast segments submitted to FEE will each be awarded the Gosia Luszczek International Podcasting Award
Necessary Criteria - Article Writing
Before you submit your article, make sure you’re not
missing anything!
1. Is your article 1000 words or less and in English?
2. Does it have a title?
3. Does it have 1-3 images, for example, photographs, illustrations, diagrams?
4. Does your article have an introduction paragraph, a body (supporting paragraphs)
and a conclusion paragraph?
5. Does your article answer the basic journalism questions of who, what, where, why,
when, and how?
6. If you included facts, statistics or other information (which you should!), did you get
that information from real and reliable sources?
7. Do you cite all the sources you used in a bibliography at the end?
8. Do you explore the historical, economic, social, and/or political implications of your
topic through an environmental lens?
9. Do you show a link between local and global issues or events?
10. Do you identify realistic solutions to the environmental problems you present in
your article?
11. Did you choose an original topic or approach a topic in a new and creative way?
12. Did you conduct interviews and leave your school to conduct fieldwork?
13. Did you share your article:
a) Through your own social media channels?
b) At your school?
c) With your National Operator?
d) With your local or national newspapers, radio stations or TV channels?
14. If you shared your article, do you have evidence of this to give to your National
Operator?
If you answered ‘YES’ to all the questions, then you’re ready to submit your work to
the YRE Competition!
As from scholastic year 2015 - 2016, students aged 15 - 18 years will have the opportunity to work on a joint project with foreign countries, and write an article between them on any theme they choose. All the joint projects will be judged in a category on their own; with allocated prizes and incentives.
Maltese students aged 15 - 18 years who wish to work on a joint project with foreign countries are to contact the National Coordinator. Links with schools will be provided through the YRE network.
Contacts: Audrey Gauci
YRE National Coordinator
79295424