Young writers Charis Jackson (USA) and Irenie How (Christchurch NZ)
The 2017 young writer conference awards listings are a thing to celebrate. The young writer program is coordinated by Press Service International in conjunction with Christian Today and has 85 young people submitting a monthly article for publication.
The conference was serenaded with a period fencing display by two of the young writers Cartia Moore and her brother Jesse Moore
2017 Young Writer Winners
Australian
Cheryl McGrath - Basil Sellers Award - 1st
Peter Brookshore - Tronson Consistency - 2nd
Haydn Lea - Theology
New Zealand
Emma McGeorge - Basil Sellers Award - 1st
Irenie How - Tronson Consistency - 2nd
Matthew Joils - Theology
Internationals
Sharma Taylor - Basil Sellers Award - 1st
Danielle Jones - Tronson Consistency - 2nd
Stacy-Ann Smith - Theology
Sport wriers - Tony Dunkerley Award
Jeremy Dover, David Goodwin, Wes Tronson, Josh Hinds
Special Awards
Meenal Chandra - Encouragement Award
Ashley Menelaws - Encouragement Award
Bridget Brenton (Brisbane) enjoying morning tea – Bridget produces our conference videos
PSI - Press Service International – Christian Today
The young writer program is coordinated by PSI in conjunction with Christian Today with 85 young writers from Australia, New Zealand and around the world.
These young writers are published once every 5 weeks with 10 articles a year, submitting 'comment' pieces on a wide range of subjects. Published in Christian Today which is part of CMCI which has 100 mast heads around the world conveying Christian news along with specific publishing programs such as our young writers.
This is giving these young people a voice into the international marketplace of ideas. Young people between the ages of 18-30 are invited into the program and once these young writers hit 30 they are welcomed to continue to 35 whereupon, they might become 'senior writers'.
Laura Veloso and Jo Fuller – both Sunshine Coast
Looking ahead
To make all this function smoothly, we have a team of people assigned to each of the 5 weeks in the Cyclical program, who collate the young writer articles, and another group who edit the articles. Collaters / Editors for each week
Week 1 - Mark Tronson and Emma Seabrook
Week 2 - Russell Modlin and Rebecca Moore
Week 3 - Rosanne Menacho and Tim Price
Week 4 - Bridget Brenton and Aira Chilcott
Week 5 - Ashley Menelaws and Liam Dennt
The 2018 young writer conference will be held in Christchurch New Zealand – and next week Dr Mark Tronson will be in New Zealand at the Australasian Religious Press Association conference in Auckland and then travelling to Christchurch.
In each of these New Zealand cities he is planning to meet with the Kiwi young writers to determine which is the most suitable. With air-fare scholarships on offer, Wellington is out as it would cost too much to help fly the young writers into the capital, whereas we would halve our cost by either Auckland or Christchurch for the conference.
The plaque for the 2017 Basil Sellers Award – Cheryl McGrath
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html