Freelancers and amateur journalists are being offered the chance to see their work published in a national newspaper.

The Guardian is running a competition to celebrate journalism which focuses on the problems facing the developing world and highlights under-reported subjects.

Finalists will also fly out to third world countries to research their assignments as part of the competition.

Entrants must write an article between 650 and 1,000 words on an aspect of global poverty such as access to life-saving treatment, eliminating avoidable blindness and neglected tropical diseases.

It is open to professional published freelancers who are not employed by media organisations and amateur journalists including students.

Entries must be submitted by May 6 after which the 40 best will be published on the Guardian’s website.

From this list, eight professional and eight amateur entries will be selected and writers will be assigned a topic at random.

The 16 finalists will fly out to Africa or Asia to research their stories which will then be published in a Guardian supplement.

All finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony in London in November where the two winners will be announced.

All 16 finalists will also receive computing equipment. For more information and to enter visit the Guardian’s online competition page.