Deadline: April 7, 2024
Are you a young journalist, full-time resident in the UK, studying for a journalism qualification or starting out on your journalism career, who would like to win a prestigious award that significantly enhances your developing CV? Apply now for the Orwell Society/NUJ Young Journalist’s Award 2024.
George Orwell was one of the foremost writers of the twentieth century. Not only was he the author of Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm, his oeuvre includes some of the greatest journalism of all time. Famously, he was also a member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the photo of his membership card has been reproduced for publications on his life and works. The prestigious, UK-wide Young Journalist’s Award supports Orwell’s legacy and is also a great opportunity for up-and-coming journalists to boost their portfolios, CVs, profiles and industry networks.
Award
- Winners will receive a prize of £1,000 for each winner of the two categories: columns and reviews. In addition, each winner will receive an NUJ membership.
- The runner-up in each category will receive a prize of £500. Winners and runners-up will also receive a three-year free membership of The Orwell Society.
Eligibility
You are eligible to enter if you are:
- A student journalist (i.e. a university undergraduate, post-graduate or a vocational trainee) or
- Currently employed or self-employed as a journalist
- And in both cases, your date of birth falls in or after 1994 and you are a full-time resident in the UK.
Judging Criteria
- Subject Knowledge (25%): Demonstration of knowledge and understanding of the chosen subject. Attention to details which are both valid and relevant such as terms/concepts, theories, events, people, contexts and information. Depth and range of research and comprehension indicated by judicious incorporation of facts/quotes and pertinent definitions/explanations.
- Intellectual Skills (25%): Ability to articulate a clear and compelling position through cogent and coherent argumentation. Analysis and evaluation rather than mere description. Questioning and critical thinking rather than assumptions and platitudes. Overall command and synthesis of ideas and reasoning.
- Subject-Specific Skills (25%): Substantiation of points and arguments by reference to relevant examples. Marshalling of evidence to illustrate and illuminate. Credible sources and underpinnings rather than dubious claims and unsupported opinion.
- Transferrable Skills (25%): Standard of language usage (including grammar, punctuation, spelling and diction) as well as writing style (including expression, clarity, fluency and power). Structure supporting logical and methodical progression. Adherence to the specified word count and form of journalism.
Application
Submit the following tasks by 12:00 midnight on Sunday, April 7, 2024 to [email protected]:
- an arts review on a subject of your choice (e.g. book, film, play, art exhibition, etc) of no fewer than 600 and no more than 700 words. Your review should include a headline and an indication of the target audience/publication.
- OR a column on a political subject of your choice of no fewer than 600 and no more than 700 words. Your column should include a headline and an indication of the target audience/publication.
- a reflection of no fewer than 250 and no more than 300 words, on how your review or column is informed by Orwell’s influence. You should explain which aspects of Orwell’s life and works have had an important bearing on your piece.
- a covering email to include the following: full name, address, date of birth, journalistic qualifications, and experience.
For more information, visit Young Journalist’s Award.
