The Kiwi young writers became separate to Press Service International in Australia in 2021 and its proving to be a positive move. Published in both Christian Today New Zealand and Christian Today Australia their articles have been bountifully received.
Changes have taken place in the operations engine room to keep publishing schedules flowing –
Liz Hay has taken over from Matthew Thornton as the Weeks 1 & 2 coordinator.
Petro Swart has returned with a 4 article stint studying her Masters in the US
Kiwi sport writer Mhairi-Bronte Duncan is reducing her footprint as a writer
Mussita Ng taken on the editor role of the NZ senior writers
Circulars from Mussita have been sent to the Kiwi young writers to increase numbers with recommendations to young people and likewise to former Kiwi young writers.
Go, go, go
Even this cursory list illustrates it has been as case of ‘go-go-go’ for the new set-up of the Kiwi young writers.
For the past three years the Kiwis young writers have been functioning under ‘Stand Alone’ where Tim Newman has been sending the week list of articles and photos into Christian Today’s David Chang.
That was a steady lead-in to becoming separate to Australia.
Program
The Kiwi young writer program remains the same.
Weeks 1, 2 and 3 of each Cycle have Kiwi young writers
Week 4 are the senior writers
There are coordinators and editors and photo selectors for each of these weeks. Esther Koh as editor of the Kiwi young writers and maintains the publishing days for each young writer. Chanell Diaz is the new ‘late comer chaser’ when someone is late with their article.
There are six Kiwi young writers in Week 1, five in Week 2 and six in Week 3. Mussita who does the Kiwi Newsy Bits is the communicator and Esther the editor are looking for additional Kiwi young people ages 18-30 years to join the Christian Today team.
Kiwi young writer web sites
https://christiantodaynzarchive.wordpress.com/
Kiwi young writer contacts
Esther Koh
Mussita Ng
Ng Mussita (mussita@gmail.com)
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 25 books, and enjoys writing. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded ‘The Gutenberg’ - the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award. In September 2020 Summer Moore presented her commission portrait of Dr Mark Tronson holding the Gutenberg plaque. He and David Chang editor of Christian Today together bought the young writer ministry into fruition in 2009. In 2011 Mark established Laguna Quays Respite (Whitsundays) for missionary respite and replicated at Aldinga Beach 2016 (Adelaide) and Greens Beach Bass Straight (TAS). His ministry is honoured all these years by Christian philanthropist Mr Basil Sellers AM. He is married to Delma (44 years), with four adult married children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/dr-mark-t.html
