The 2020 Press Service International young writer conference in conjunction with Christian Today with Zoom saw numerous insights and recognised as profound.
Held on the Gold Coast on Saturday the program was as follows - young writers were on Zoom from West Indies, Nigeria, New Zealand and Australian cities Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Jesse Moore operated the IT desk for Zoom which he does for his church on the Sunshine Coast.
Session 1
Christian Today Editor spoke of how the press online media ministry developed and the role of the young writers. He spoke on many issues and answered many questions relating to the Christian Today format. The Christian Today network is centred in London which it is part of the CMCI network which has 101 mastheads of Christian News and Comment.
Cartia Moore presented a powerpoint relating to on-line writing and presentation. This was a follow up from last year when she and Amy Manners presented an initial on-line ministry seminar. Delma Tronson said of this 2020 presentation that it was clarifying and down to earth. Cartia’s powerpoint notes will be available on Vimeo for the young writers.
Session 2
Joseph Kolapudi in a power point presentation spoke of ministry in the community. His session will be spelt out on Wednesday in a feature article - and likewise be on Vimeo for the 109 young writers around the world.
Session 3 - after lunch
Small groups followed by all groups coming together. Initially Russell Modlin MC invited each person to introduce themselves and this was followed by a general open discussion on the program. There were three panellists there – Gavin Lawrie, Kandima Awendila and Bridget Brenton who spoke on the validity and freshness of articles which are truly Comment (as required by Christian Today). The Zoom group met online for their discussion period. Over the day many others came in and out of Zoom.
Annual Awards
Cartia Moore from the Sunshine Coast was awarded the prestigious 2020 Basil Sellers Australian Young Writers Award.
Each 2020 major award will be announced in a feature article all this week and next week, as is customary.
Other matters
Updated head and shoulder photos were taken of the young writers (as we do each year).
Young writers in groups of 5 surrounded the Gutenberg plaque for historic photos. The Gutenberg was presented last September to the PSI young writer ministry – the premier award of the Australasian Religious Press Association. The Logies of Christian press media.
Summer Moore a young outstanding artist from the Sunshine Coast presented a commissioned portrait of Dr Mark Tronson, the founder of the young writers with nthe Gutenberg.
2021 – Next Year
Rev Dave of Living Temple Christian Church (Tugun Baptist) adjacent to the Gold Coast Airport has invited the annual young writers conference back in 2021 when hopefully the State borders will be open. The young writer Brain’s Trust has accepted.