The Press Service International Young Writer Program in conjunction with Christian Today depends upon the voluntary services of its Week Coordinators and Week Editors.
These are the unsung champions of the young writers program which functions with 5 Week 'Cycles' — there are 10 such 'Cycles' throughout the year. In other words, each young writer (18–30) submits 10 'Comment' articles each year.
The young writers come from Australia, New Zealand and a selection of 18 young people from around the world – extending from England, Canada, China, South Africa, ambique, USA, West Indies …
These 85 young writers are placed into Week allotments — each of these Week allotments have a Week Coordinator and a Week Editor.
Week Coordinators
The Week Coordinator role is that of sending reminders to each of the young writers in their week for the due date, once articles come in the coordinator checks them for the right heading format, text font and 14 points size, sub-headings, spelling mistakes and such like.
Once checked and collated, the articles are then sent to their Week Editor.
Coordinators
Week 1 — Internationals — Dr Mark Tronson
Week 2 — Australians — Russell Modlin
Week 3 — Australians — Tom Anderson
Week 4 — Australians — Bridget Brenton
Week 5 — Australians — Ashley Menelaws
CTNZ — Coordinator — Irenie How
Week Editors
The role of the Week Editor, once articles are received from their Week Coordinator, their role is to read through the articles to ensure the PSI Style Guide is followed — developed by former chief editor Sophia Sinclair.
The Week Editors usually correspond with the young writer when major editorial changes are made, and ready each article in their week for publication in Christian Today. The compiled articles with their publishing dates are sent to Dr Mark Tronson and it is he does a final check and then forwards to Christian Today.
Week Editors
Week 1 — Internationals — approached someone
Week 2 — Australians — Rebecca Moore
Week 3 — Australians — Tim Price
Week 4 — Australians — Aira Chilcott
Week 5 — Australians — Liam Denny
CTNZ — editor — Irenie How
Timeline
The time line is as follows
8 days prior to the due date — the reminders are sent. The due date each week is a Friday night. Late-comer names are sent to Dr Tronson who chases up
Over the weekend the articles are sent to the Week Editor. The Week Editor sends them to Dr Tronson by Tuesday night. Dr Tronson sends them to Christian Today no later than Thursday
The following week they are published in the day schedule
Circular
This process happens throughout the year — week after week after week — 5 weeks per Cycle, 10 Cycles a year … and it’s a joy to the Lord it works so very smoothly.
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