Open for entries, launch debate video, and lecture

Friday 11 November 2011

The Orwell Prize 2012 is now OPEN for entries. For the first time, online entry forms are available for all three prizes – the Book Prize, Journalism Prize and Blog Prize. You can also download PDF versions of the Book Prize and Journalism Prize forms. Basic details are available on our ‘How to Enter’ page, or you can check out the full rules and the values of the Prize. And you can find out who’s judging this year’s Prize in the press release or on our ‘Judges’ page. Entries close on 18 January 2012, for all work first published in 2011. The Prize is self-nominating, but if you think there’s someone who should enter, either encourage them to do so or get in touch. Good luck!

Video of Launch Debate, ‘Writing the Riots’

You can now watch the video of this year’s terrific launch debate on our website. Nick Kent (artistic director of the Tricycle Theatre), Paul Lewis (special projects editor of The Guardian, shortlisted for the Orwell Prize 2010), Mary Riddell (assistant editor of the Daily Telegraph, shortlisted for the Orwell Prize 2008 and 2004) and Alex Wheatle (novelist, author of books including Brixton Rock, East of Acre Lane and Brenton Brown) talked about this summer’s riots and the aftermath – it’s well worth an hour and a bit of your time.

George Orwell Memorial Lecture 2011

‘Writing the Riots’ wasn’t the only Orwell-related event this week. Last night, Alan Rusbridger, editor-in-chief of Guardian News and Media, talked about ‘Hacking Away at the Truth’, recounting The Guardian’s investigation into phone-hacking at the News of the World. He also made some suggestions for the self-regulation of the British press. You can read the full text of the lecture on our website; read an abridged version over at The Guardian; or wait for the video, which should appear on our YouTube channel over the weekend. The Orwell Lecture is organised by the Orwell Trust with Birkbeck College, University of London.

The Wartime Diaries

The next entry will be published on 14th March.

The Hop-Picking Diaries

The final entry was published on 8th October.

The Wigan Pier Diaries

The final entry was published on 25th March. If you’ve got any suggestions about our website(s), we’d love to hear from you – email us on gavin.freeguard@mediastandardstrust.org or follow us on Twitter. And you can subscribe to this newsletter via email.